I
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8168
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 22, 2022
Mr. McCarthy (for himself, Mr. Peters, Mr. Westerman, Mr. Costa, Mr. Valadao, Mr. Panetta, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Calvert, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Garcia of California, Mr. Correa, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Bera, Mr. Obernolte, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Perlmutter, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Schrader, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Malinowski, Mrs. Kim of California, Ms. Conway, and Mr. Kahele) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To improve the health and resiliency of giant sequoias, and for other purposes.
Short title; table of contents
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Save Our Sequoias Act
.
Table of contents
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Shared stewardship agreement for giant sequoias.
Sec. 4. Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition.
Sec. 5. Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment.
Sec. 6. Giant sequoia emergency response.
Sec. 7. Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy.
Sec. 8. Giant Sequoia Strike Teams.
Sec. 9. Giant sequoia collaborative restoration grants.
Sec. 10. Good neighbor authority for giant sequoias.
Sec. 11. Stewardship contracting for giant sequoias.
Sec. 12. Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund.
Sec. 13. Authorization of appropriations.
Definitions
In this Act:
Assessment
The term Assessment
means the Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment required by section 5.
Coalition
The term Coalition
means the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition established under section 4.
Collaborative process
The term collaborative process
means a process relating to the management of National Forest System lands or public lands by which a project or forest management activity is developed and implemented by the Secretary concerned through collaboration with multiple interested persons representing diverse interests.
Covered National Forest System lands
The term covered National Forest System lands
means the proclaimed National Forest System lands reserved or withdrawn from the public domain of the United States covering the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sierra National Forest, and Tahoe National Forest.
Giant sequoia
The term giant sequoia
means a tree of the species Sequoiadendron giganteum.
Grove-specific hazardous fuels reduction plan
The term grove-specific hazardous fuels reduction plan
means a plan developed by the applicable land management agency prior to conducting an analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) to address hazardous fuels in 1 or more giant sequoia groves.
Protection project
The term Protection Project
means a Giant Sequoia Protection Project carried out under section 6.
Public lands
The term public lands
means—
the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area in California managed by the Bureau of Land Management; and
Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park in California managed by the National Park Service.
Reforestation
The term reforestation
means the act of renewing tree cover by establishing young trees through natural regeneration, artificial or natural regeneration with site preparation, planting or direct seeding, or vegetation competition control following artificial or natural regeneration.
Rehabilitation
The term rehabilitation
means any action taken during the 5-year period beginning on the last day of a wildland fire to repair or improve fire-impacted lands which are unlikely to recover to management-approved conditions.
Relevant congressional committees
The term relevant Congressional Committees
means—
the Committees on Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources, Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Appropriations of the Senate.
Responsible official
The term responsible official
means an employee of the Department of the Interior or Forest Service who has the authority to make and implement a decision on a proposed action.
Secretary
The term Secretary
means the Secretary of the Interior.
Secretary concerned
The term Secretary concerned
means—
the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to covered National Forest System lands, or their designee; and
the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public lands, or their designee.
Strategy
The term Strategy
means the Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy established under section 7.
Strike team
The term Strike Team
means a Giant Sequoia Strike Team established under section 8.
Tribe
The term Tribe
means the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California.
Shared stewardship agreement for giant sequoias
In general
Not later than 90 days after receiving a request from the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Governor of the State of California, and the Tribe to jointly carry out the following:
Not later than 30 days after entering into the agreement, establish the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition or certify an existing group meeting the requirements of section 4(b) as the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition.
Not later than 120 days after the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition submits the Assessment under section 5, conduct Protection Projects under section 6.
Not later than 120 days after entering into the agreement, begin implementing the Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy under section 7.
Participation
In general
If the Secretary has not received a request from the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe under subsection (a) before the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into the agreement under subsection (a) and jointly implement such agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture.
Future participation
If the Secretary receives a request from the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe any time after entering into the agreement with the Secretary of Agriculture under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall accept the Governor of the State of California or the Tribe as a party to such agreement.
Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition
Establishment
In general
In accordance with the timeline and agreement established in section 3(a)(1), the Secretary, in consultation with the parties to such agreement, shall establish, and appoint members to, the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition.
Existing coalition
A previously established group that meets the membership requirements under subsection (b) may be designated by the Secretary as the Coalition under paragraph (1) if the parties to the agreement established under section 3 approve such designation.
Membership
Members
The Secretary shall appoint to the Coalition 1 member from each of—
the National Park Service, representing Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks;
the National Park Service, representing Yosemite National Park;
the Forest Service, representing Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument;
the Forest Service, representing Sierra National Forest;
the Forest Service, representing Tahoe National Forest;
the Bureau of Land Management, representing Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area;
the Tribe, representing the Black Mountain Grove;
the State of California, representing Calaveras Big Trees State Park;
the State of California, representing Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest;
an academic institution with demonstrated experience managing and owning a giant sequoia grove, representing Whitaker’s Research Forest; and
the County of Tulare, California, representing Balch Park.
Affiliate partners
The Coalition may designate organizations or agencies with demonstrated experience and knowledge on giant sequoia management and resiliency as affiliate partners of the Coalition to enhance the work of the Coalition under subsection (c).
Local government participation
Upon the written request of a local government in California whose jurisdictional boundaries encompass at least 1 giant sequoia grove, the Secretary shall appoint 1 member from such government to serve as a member of the Coalition, subject to the same requirements outlined in this section.
Term
Length
The term of an appointment as a member of the Coalition shall be 5 years.
Limit
Members of the Coalition may serve no more than 2 terms.
Vacancy
The Secretary shall appoint a new member to fill a vacancy on the Coalition not later than 6 months after the date on which such vacancy occurs.
Decisions
Decisions of the Coalition shall be made by majority vote, a quorum of 6 members of the Coalition being present.
Meetings
In general
Not later than 60 days after all members of the Coalition are appointed under subsection (a), the Coalition shall hold its first meeting.
Regular meetings
The Coalition shall meet not less than twice per year.
Priority
The Secretary shall appoint members under subsection (b)(1) who have a demonstrated experience and knowledge on managing giant sequoia groves.
Duties
The duties of the Coalition are to—
carry out the Assessment under section 5;
observe implementation, and provide policy recommendations to the Secretary, with respect to—
Protection Projects carried out under section 6; and
the Strategy established under section 7;
facilitate collaboration and coordination on Protection Projects, particularly projects that cross jurisdictional boundaries;
facilitate information sharing, including best available science as described in section 5(c) and mapping resources; and
support the development and dissemination of educational materials and programs that inform the public about the threats to the health and resiliency of giant sequoia groves and actions being taken to reduce the risk to such groves from high-severity wildfire, insects, and drought.
Pay and expenses
Compensation
Federal employee members
All members of the Coalition who are officers or employees of the United States shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as officers or employees of the United States.
Non-federal employee members
All members of the Coalition not described in subparagraph (A) shall serve without compensation.
Reimbursement
A member of the Coalition may be reimbursed for travel and lodging expenses incurred while attending a meeting of the Coalition or any other meeting of members approved for reimbursement by the Coalition in the same amounts and under the same conditions as Federal employees under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
Expenses
The Secretary may pay the expenses of the Coalition that the Secretary determines to be reasonable and appropriate.
Administrative support, technical services, and staff support
The Secretary shall make personnel of the Department of the Interior available to the Coalition for administrative support, technical services, development and dissemination of educational materials, and staff support that the Secretary determines necessary to carry out this section.
Federal Advisory Committee Act
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Coalition.
Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment
In general
Not later than 180 days after the first meeting of the Coalition, the Coalition shall submit to the relevant Congressional Committees a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment that, based on the best available science—
identifies—
each giant sequoia grove that has experienced a—
stand-replacing disturbance; or
disturbance but continues to have living giant sequoias within the grove, including identifying the tree mortality and regeneration of giant sequoias within such grove;
each giant sequoia grove that is at high risk of experiencing a stand-replacing disturbance;
lands located near giant sequoia groves that are at risk of experiencing high-severity wildfires that could adversely impact such giant sequoia groves; and
each giant sequoia grove that has experienced a disturbance and is unlikely to naturally regenerate and is in need of reforestation;
analyzes the resiliency of each giant sequoia grove to threats, such as—
high-severity wildfire;
insects, including beetle kill; and
drought;
with respect to Protection Projects, proposes a list of highest priority Protection Projects to be carried out under section 6, giving priority to projects located on lands identified under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (a)(1);
examines how historical, Tribal, or current approaches to wildland fire suppression and forest management activities across various jurisdictions have impacted the health and resiliency of giant sequoia groves with respect to—
high-severity wildfires;
insects, including beetle kill; and
drought; and
includes program and policy recommendations that address—
Federal and State policies that impede activities to improve the health and resiliency of giant sequoias and proposed policy changes to address such impediments;
new Federal and State policies necessary to increase the pace and scale of treatments that improve the health and resiliency of giant sequoias;
options to enhance communication, coordination, and collaboration, particularly for cross-boundary projects, to improve the health and resiliency of giant sequoias; and
research gaps that should be addressed to improve the best available science on the giant sequoias.
Annual updates
Not later than 1 year after the submission of the Assessment under subsection (a), and annually thereafter, the Coalition shall submit an updated Assessment to the relevant Congressional Committees that—
includes any new data, information, or best available science that has changed or become available since the previous Assessment was submitted;
with respect to Protection Projects—
includes information on the number of Protection Projects initiated the previous year and the estimated timeline for completing those projects;
includes information on the number of Protection Projects planned in the upcoming year and the estimated timeline for completing those projects;
provides status updates and long-term monitoring reports on giant sequoia groves after the completion of Protection Projects;
if the Secretary concerned failed to initiate at least 1 Protection Project each in the previous year, a written explanation that includes—
a detailed explanation of what impediments resulted in failing to initiate at least 1 Protection Project;
a detailed explanation of what actions the Secretary concerned is taking to ensure that at least 1 Protection Project is initiated the following year; and
recommendations to Congress on any policies that need to be changed to assist the Secretary concerned in initiating Protection Projects; and
with respect to reforestation and rehabilitation of giant sequoias—
contains updates on the implementation of the Strategy under section 7, including grove-level data on reforestation and rehabilitation activities; and
provides status updates and monitoring reports on giant sequoia groves that have experienced natural or artificial regeneration as part of the Strategy under section 7.
Dashboard
Requirement to maintain
The Coalition shall create and maintain a website that—
publishes the Assessment, annual updates to the Assessment, and other educational materials developed by the Coalition;
contains searchable information about individual giant sequoia groves, including the—
resiliency of such groves to threats described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a);
Protection Projects that have been proposed, initiated, or completed in such groves; and
reforestation and rehabilitation activities that have been proposed, initiated, or completed in such groves; and
maintains a searchable database to track—
the status of Federal environmental reviews and authorizations for specific Protection Projects and reforestation and rehabilitation activities; and
the projected cost of Protection Projects and reforestation and rehabilitation activities.
Searchable database
The Coalition shall include information on the status of Protection Projects in the searchable database created under paragraph (1)(C), including—
a comprehensive permitting timetable;
the status of the compliance of each lead agency, cooperating agency, and participating agency with the permitting timetable;
any modifications of the permitting timetable required under subparagraph (A), including an explanation as to why the permitting timetable was modified; and
information about project-related public meetings, public hearings, and public comment periods, which shall be presented in English and the predominant language of the community or communities most affected by the project, as that information becomes available.
Best available science
In utilizing the best available science for the Assessment, the Coalition shall include—
data and peer-reviewed research from academic institutions with a demonstrated history of studying giant sequoias and with experience analyzing distinct management strategies to improve giant sequoia resiliency;
traditional ecological knowledge from the Tribe related to improving the health and resiliency of giant sequoia groves; and
data from Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments or agencies.
Technology improvements
In carrying out this section, the Secretary may enter into memorandums of understanding or agreements with other Federal agencies or departments, State or local governments, Tribal governments, private entities, or academic institutions to improve, with respect to the Assessment, the use and integration of—
advanced remote sensing and geospatial technologies;
statistical modeling and analysis; or
any other technology the Secretary determines will benefit the quality of information used in the Assessment.
Planning
The Coalition shall make information from this Assessment available to the Secretary concerned and State of California to integrate into the—
State of California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan; and
Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy (or successor plan).
Relation to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
The development and submission of the Assessment under subsection (a) shall not be subject to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Giant sequoia emergency response
Emergency response To protect giant sequoias
In general
Emergency determination
Congress determines that—
an emergency exists on public lands and covered National Forest System lands that makes it necessary to carry out Protection Projects that take needed actions to respond to the threat of wildfires, insects, and drought to giant sequoias; and
Protection Projects are necessary to control the immediate impacts of the emergency described in subparagraph (i) and are needed to mitigate harm to life, property, or important natural or cultural resources on public lands and covered National Forest System lands.
Application
The emergency determination established under subparagraph (A) shall apply to all public lands and covered National Forest System lands.
Effect
The emergency determination established under subparagraph (A) shall go into effect on the date the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition submits the Assessment under section 5.
Expiration
The emergency determination established under subparagraph (A) shall expire on the date that is 10 years after the effective date of the emergency determination established in paragraph (C).
Implementation
While the emergency determination established under subsection (a) is in effect—
a responsible official may carry out a Protection Project described by paragraph (4) before initiating—
an analysis under section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332);
consultation under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536); and
consultation under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470(f)); and
the rules established under subsections (d) and (e) section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592c(d) and (e)) shall apply with respect to Protection Projects by substituting Protection Projects
for authorized emergency action under this section
each place it appears in such subsections; and
Protection Projects shall be subject to the requirements of section 106 of title I of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511 et seq.).
Protection Projects
The responsible official shall carry out the following forest management activities as Protection Projects under the emergency determination under this section:
Activities recommended by the Assessment under section 5.
Conducting hazardous fuels management, including mechanical thinning, mastication, and prescribed burning.
Removing hazard trees, dead trees, dying trees, or trees at risk of dying, as determined by the responsible official.
Removing trees to address overstocking or crowding in a forest stand, consistent with the appropriate basal area of the forest stand as determined by the responsible official.
Activities included in the applicable grove-specific hazardous fuels reduction plan.
Using chemical treatments to address insects and disease and control vegetation competition.
Any combination of activities described in this paragraph.
Requirements
In general
Protection Projects carried out under paragraph (3) and reforestation and rehabilitation activities carried out under this Act that are described by subparagraph (D) are a category of actions hereby designated as being categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332).
Availability
The Secretary concerned shall use the categorical exclusion established under subparagraph (A) in accordance with this section.
Interagency cooperation
Findings
Congress finds that Protection Projects carried out under this section are consistent with improving the health and resiliency of critical habitat for threatened and endangered species, including the pacific fisher and California spotted owl.
Consultation
The informal consultation requirements in sections 402.05 of title 50 and 800.12 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), shall apply to Protection Projects.
Requirements
A Protection Project or reforestation or rehabilitation activity is described by this subparagraph if such Protection Project or reforestation or rehabilitation activity—
covers an area of no more than—
2,000 acres within giant sequoia groves where a grove-specific hazardous fuels reduction plan has been developed by the relevant land management agency or on lands identified under section 5(a)(1)(B); and
3,000 acres on lands identified under section 5(a)(1)(C); and
was—
proposed by the Assessment under section 5(a)(3);
developed through a collaborative process; or
proposed by a resource advisory committee (as defined in section 201 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7121)); and
occurs on Federal land or non-Federal land with the consent of the non-Federal landowner.
Use of other authorities
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall use the authorities provided under this section in combination with other authorities to carry out Protection Projects, including—
good neighbor agreements entered into under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a); and
stewardship contracting projects entered into under section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c).
Savings clause
With respect to joint Protection Projects and reforestation and rehabilitation activities involving the Tribe, nothing in this section shall be construed to add any additional regulatory requirements onto the Tribe.
Implementation
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall initiate no fewer than 1 Protection Project each year.
Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy
Reforestation and rehabilitation strategy
In general
In accordance with the timeline and agreement established in section 3(a)(3), the Secretary, in consultation with the parties to such agreement, shall develop and implement a strategy, to be known as the Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy, to enhance the reforestation and rehabilitation of giant sequoia groves that—
identifies giant sequoia groves in need of natural or artificial regeneration, giving highest priority to groves identified under section 5(a)(1)(A)(i);
creates a priority list of reforestation and rehabilitation activities;
identifies and addresses—
barriers to reforestation or rehabilitation including—
regulatory barriers;
seedling shortages or related nursery infrastructure capacity constraints;
labor and workforce shortages;
technology and science gaps; and
site preparation challenges;
potential public-private partnership opportunities to complete high-priority reforestation or rehabilitation projects;
a timeline for addressing the backlog of reforestation for giant sequoias in the 10-year period after the agreement is entered into under section 3; and
strategies to ensure genetic diversity across giant sequoia groves; and
includes program and policy recommendations needed to improve the efficiency or effectiveness of the Strategy.
Assessment
The Secretary may incorporate the Strategy into the Assessment under section 5.
Priority reforestation projects amendment
Section 3(e)(4)(C)(ii)(I) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601(e)(4)(C)(ii)(I)) is amended—
in item (bb), by striking and
;
in item (cc), by striking the period and inserting ; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
shall include reforestation and rehabilitation activities conducted under section 7 of the Save Our Sequoias Act.
.
Implementation
Section 4(d)(1) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)) is amended by inserting Nothing in this Act shall restrict or prohibit the Secretary of the Interior or Secretary of Agriculture from conducting reforestation (as such term is defined in section 2 of the Save Our Sequoias Act) activities to reestablish giant sequoias following a wildfire.
after the period at the end.
Giant Sequoia Strike Teams
Giant sequoia strike teams
Establishment
The Secretary concerned shall each establish a Giant Sequoia Strike Team to assist the Secretary concerned with the implementation of—
primarily, section 6; and
secondarily, section 7.
Duties
Each Strike Team shall—
assist the Secretary concerned with any reviews, including analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), consultations under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.), and consultations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);
implement any necessary site preparation work in advance of or as part of a Protection Project or reforestation or rehabilitation activity;
implement Protection Projects under section 6; and
implement reforestation or rehabilitation activities under section 7.
Members
The Secretary concerned may appoint no more than 10 individuals each to serve on a Strike Team comprised of—
employees of the Department of the Interior;
employees of the Forest Service;
private contractors from any nonprofit organization, State government, Tribal Government, local government, academic institution, or private organization; and
volunteers from any nonprofit organization, State government, Tribal Government, local government, academic institution, or private organization.
Giant sequoia collaborative restoration grants
In general
The Secretary, in consultation with the parties to the agreement under section 3, shall establish a program to award grants to eligible entities to advance, facilitate, or improve giant sequoia health and resiliency.
Eligible entity
The Secretary may award grants under this section to any nonprofit organization, Tribal Government, local government, academic institution, or private organization to help advance, facilitate, or improve giant sequoia health and resiliency.
Priority
In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that—
primarily, are likely to have the greatest impact on giant sequoia health and resiliency; and
secondarily—
are small businesses, particularly in rural areas; and
create or support jobs, particularly in rural areas.
Use of grant funds
Funds from grants awarded under this section shall be used to—
create, expand, or develop markets for hazardous fuels removed under section 6, including markets for biomass and biochar;
facilitate hazardous fuel removal under section 6, including by reducing the cost of transporting hazardous fuels removed as part of a Protection Project;
expand, enhance, develop, or create permanent or temporary facilities or land that can store or process hazardous fuels removed under section 6; and
establish, develop, expand, enhance, or improve nursery capacity or infrastructure necessary to facilitate the Strategy established under section 7.
Good Neighbor Authority for giant sequoias
Section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (4)(A)—
in clause (ii), by striking and
at the end;
by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (iv);
by inserting after clause (ii) the following:
activities conducted under section 6 of the Save Our Sequoias Act;
;
in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or
; and
by adding at the end the following:
any combination of activities specified in clauses (i) through (iv).
; and
in paragraph (10)(B) by striking land.
and inserting land, Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park.
; and
in subsection (b)(2), by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows—
Treatment of revenue
Funds received from the sale of timber by a Governor of a State under a good neighbor agreement shall be retained and used by the Governor—
to carry out authorized restoration services under such good neighbor agreement; and
if there are funds remaining after carrying out the services under clause (i), to carry out authorized restoration services within the State under other good neighbor agreements.
.
Stewardship contracting for giant sequoias
National park service
Section 604(a)(2) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c(c)) is amended to read—
Director
The term Director
means the Director of the Bureau of Land Management with respect to Bureau of Land Management lands and the Director of the National Park Service with respect to lands within Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park.
.
Giant sequoia stewardship contracts
Section 604(c) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Promoting the health and resiliency of giant sequoias.
.
Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund
In general
Chapter 1011 of title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the following:
Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Program and Fund
Giant sequoia emergency protection program
The National Park Foundation, in coordination with the National Forest Foundation, shall design and implement a comprehensive program to assist and promote philanthropic programs of support that benefit—
primarily, the management and conservation of giant sequoias on National Park Service and covered National Forest System lands to promote resiliency to wildfires, insects, and drought; and
secondarily, the reforestation of giant sequoias on National Park Service and covered National Forest System lands impacted by wildfire.
Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Fund
The National Park Foundation, in coordination with the National Forest Foundation, shall establish a joint special account to be known as the Giant Sequoia Emergency Protection Fund (referred to as the Fund
in this section), to be administered in support of the program established under subsection (a).
Funds for giant sequoia emergency protection
The following shall apply to the Fund:
The Fund shall consist of any gifts, devises, or bequests that are provided to the National Park Foundation or National Forest Foundation for such purpose.
The National Park Foundation and National Forest Foundation shall deposit any funds received for the Fund in a federally insured interest-bearing account or may invest funds in appropriate security obligations, as mutually agreed upon.
Any accrued interest or dividends earned on funds received for the Fund shall be added to the principal and form a part of the Fund.
Use of funds
Funds shall be available to the National Park Foundation and National Forest Foundation without further appropriation for projects and activities approved by the Chief of the Forest Service or the Director of the National Park Service as appropriate, or their designees, to—
primarily, support the management and conservation of giant sequoias on National Park Service and covered National Forest System lands to promote resiliency to wildfires, insects, and drought; and
secondarily, support the reforestation of giant sequoias on National Park Service and covered National Forest System lands impacted by wildfire.
Summary
Beginning 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the National Park Foundation and National Forest Foundation shall include with their annual reports a summary of the status of the program and Fund created under this section that includes—
a statement of the amounts deposited in the Fund during the fiscal year;
the amount of the balance remaining in the Fund at the end of the fiscal year; and
a description of the program and projects funded during the fiscal year.
Covered National Forest System lands defined
In this section, the term covered National Forest System lands
has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Save Our Sequoias Act.
.
Conforming amendment
The table of sections for chapter of title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the following:
.
Authorization of appropriations
In general
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act—
for fiscal year 2024, $10,000,000;
for fiscal year 2025, $25,000,000;
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2028, $30,000,000; and
for each of fiscal years 2029 through 2033, $40,000,000.
Limitation
Of the amounts authorized under subsection (a), not less than 90 percent of funds shall be used to carry out section 6 and section 9 of this Act.