#aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #biba ,,an ,,act ,to establish a vegetation management pilot program on ,national ,forest ,system land to better protect utility infrastructure from passing wildfire1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,national ,forest ,system ,vegetation ,management ,pilot ,program ,act of #bjag4 #b4 ,utility infrastructure rights-of-way vegetation management pilot program 7a7 ,pilot program required ,to encourage owners or operators of rights-of-way on ,national ,forest ,system land to partner with the ,forest ,service to voluntarily perform vegetation management on a proactive basis to better protect utility infrastructure from potential passing wildfires1 the ,secretary shall conduct a limited1 voluntary pilot program1 in the manner described in this section1 to permit vegetation management projects on ,national ,forest ,system land adjacent to or near such rights-of-way4 7b7 ,eligible participants ,a participant in the pilot program must have a right-of-way on ,national ,forest ,system land4 ,in selecting participants1 the ,secretary shall give priority to holders of a right-of-way who have worked with ,forest ,service fire scientists and used technologies1 such as ,light ,detection and ,ranging surveys1 to improve utility infrastructure protection prescriptions4 7c7 ,project elements ,a vegetation management project under the pilot program involves limited and selective vegetation management activities1 which-- 7#a7 shall create the least amount of disturbance reasonably necessary to protect utility infrastructure from passing wildfires based on applicable models1 including ,forest ,service fuel models2 7#b7 may include thinning1 fuel reduction1 creation and treatment of shaded fuel breaks1 and other measures as appropriate2 7#c7 shall only take place adjacent to the participant's right-of-way or within #ge feet of the participant's right-of-way2 7#d7 shall not take place in any designated wilderness area1 wilderness study area1 or inventoried roadless area2 and 7#e7 shall be subject to approval by the ,forest ,service in accordance with this ,act4 7d7 ,project costs ,a participant in the pilot program shall be responsible for all costs1 as determined by the ,secretary1 incurred in participating in the pilot program1 unless the ,secretary determines that it is in the public interest for the ,forest ,service to contribute funds for a vegetation management project conducted under the pilot program4 7e7 ,liability 7#a7 ,in general ,participation in the pilot program does not affect any existing legal obligations or liability standards that-- 7,a7 arise under the right-of-way for activities in the right-of-way2 or 7,b7 apply to fires resulting from causes other than activities conducted pursuant to an approved vegetation management project4 7#b7 ,project work ,a participant shall not be liable to the ,united ,states for damage proximately caused by activities conducted pursuant to an approved vegetation management project unless-- 7,a7 such activities were carried out in a manner that was grossly negligent or that violated criminal law2 or 7,b7 the damage was caused by the failure of the participant to comply with specific safety requirements expressly imposed by the ,forest ,service as a condition of participating in the pilot program4 7f7 ,implementation ,the ,secretary shall utilize existing laws and regulations in the conduct of the pilot program and1 in order to implement the pilot program in an efficient and expeditious manner1 may waive or modify specific provisions of the ,federal ,acquisition ,regulation1 including modifications to allow for formation of contracts or agreements on a noncompetitive basis4 7g7 ,treatment of proceeds ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the ,secretary may-- 7#a7 retain any funds provided to the ,forest ,service by a participant in the pilot program2 and 7#b7 use such funds1 in such amounts as may be appropriated1 in the conduct of the pilot program4 7h7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,national ,forest ,system land ,the term ,national ,forest ,system land means land within the ,national ,forest ,system1 as defined in section #aa7;a7 of the ,forest and ,rangeland ,renewable ,resources ,planning ,act of #aigd 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #afji7;a77 exclusive of the ,national ,grasslands and land utilization projects designated as ,national ,grasslands administered pursuant to the ,act of ,july #bb1 #aicg 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #ajaj-ajab74 7#b7 ,passing wildfire ,the term passing wildfire means a wildfire that originates outside the right-of-way4 7#c7 ,right-of-way ,the term right-of-way means a special use authorization issued by the ,forest ,service allowing the placement of utility infrastructure4 7#d7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7#e7 ,utility infrastructure ,the term utility infrastructure means electric transmission lines1 natural gas infrastructure1 or related structures4 7i7 ,duration ,the authority to conduct the pilot program1 and any vegetation management project under the pilot program1 expires ,december #ba1 #bjbg4 7j7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than ,december #ca1 #bjai1 and every two years thereafter1 the ,secretary shall issue a report to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate1 the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate1 the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives1 and the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives on the status of the program and any projects established under this section4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,october #ca1 #bjag4;,clerk4