S. 3106 — Introduced in Senate

II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3106 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 19, 2019Mr. Udall (for himself, Mr. Portman, and Ms. Stabenow) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 to promote reforestation following unplanned events on Federal land, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reforestation Act of 2019. 2. Reforestation following wildfires and other unplanned events (a) Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (1) National forest cover policy (A) In general Section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601) is amended— (i) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); (ii) by redesignating the second subsection (d) (relating to the policy of Congress regarding forested land in the National Forest System) as subsection (e); and (iii) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated)— (I) in paragraph (2)— (aa) in the first sentence— (AA) by striking 9 of this Act, the Secretary shall annually for eight years following the enactment of this subsection and inserting 9, the Secretary shall, annually during each of the 10 years beginning after the date of enactment of the Reforestation Act of 2019; and (BB) by striking eight-year and inserting 10-year; (bb) in the second sentence, by striking such eight-year period and inserting the 10-year period; and (cc) in the third sentence, by striking 1978 and inserting 2021; (II) in paragraph (3), in the first sentence, by striking subsection (d) and inserting subsection; and (III) by adding at the end the following: (4) Reforestation requirements (A) Definitions In this paragraph: (i) Natural regeneration (I) In general The term natural regeneration means the establishment of a tree or tree age class from natural seeding, sprouting, or suckering in accordance with the management objectives of an applicable land management plan. (II) Inclusion The term natural regeneration may include any site preparation activity to enhance the success of regeneration to the desired species composition and structure. (ii) Priority land The term priority land means National Forest System land that, due to an unplanned event— (I) is unstocked; (II) requires reforestation to meet the objectives of an applicable land management plan; and (III) is unlikely to experience natural regeneration without assistance. (iii) Reforestation The term reforestation means the act of renewing tree cover by establishing young trees through— (I) natural regeneration; (II) natural regeneration with site preparation; or (III) planting direct seeding, taking into consideration species composition and resilience. (iv) Unplanned event (I) In general The term unplanned event means any unplanned disturbance that— (aa) disrupts ecosystem or forest structure or composition; or (bb) changes resources, substrate availability, or the physical environment. (II) Inclusions The term unplanned event may include— (aa) a wildfire; (bb) an infestation of insects or disease; (cc) a weather event; and (dd) animal damage. (v) Unstocked The term unstocked, with respect to forest land, means that a percentage of forested land area of the forest land fails to achieve compliance with a stocking level required under an applicable land management plan. (B) Requirement Each reforestation activity under this section shall be carried out in accordance with applicable Forest Service management practices and definitions, including those contained in— (i) the amendment numbered 2400–2014–1 to chapter 2470 (relating to silvicultural practices) of the Forest Service document numbered FSM 2400 (relating to forest management) (or a successor amendment or manual); and (ii) section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation). (C) Reforestation priority (i) In general In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to projects on the priority list described in clause (ii). (ii) Priority list (I) In general The Chief of the Forest Service shall, based on recommendations from regional foresters, create a priority list of reforestation projects that— (aa) primarily take place on priority land; (bb) promote effective reforestation following unplanned events; and (cc) may include activities to ensure adequate and appropriate seed availability. (II) Ranking The Chief of the Forest Service shall rank projects on the priority list under subclause (I) based on— (aa) documentation of an effective reforestation project plan; (bb) the ability to measure the progress and success of the project; and (cc) the ability of a project to provide benefits relating to forest function and health, soil health and productivity, wildlife habitat, improved air and water quality, carbon sequestration potential, resilience, job creation, and enhanced recreational opportunities. . (B) Conforming amendment Section 9 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2105) is amended, in the undesignated matter following paragraph (5) of subsection (g)— (i) by striking section 3(d) and inserting subsection (e) of section 3; and (ii) by striking 1601(d) and inserting 1601. (2) National Forest System program elements Section 9 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1607) is amended, in the second sentence, by striking 2000 and inserting 2029. (b) Reforestation Trust Fund Section 303 of Public Law 96–451 (16 U.S.C. 1606a) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking $30,000,000 and inserting $60,000,000; and (2) in subsection (d)(1)— (A) by striking section 3(d) and inserting subsection (e) of section 3; and (B) by striking 1601(d) and inserting 1601. (c) Stewardship end result contracting projects 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: (8) With respect to projects under subsection (b) entered into only by the Chief, reforestation in accordance with subsection (e)(4)(C)(ii) of section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601). . (d) Good neighbor authority Section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(4)(A)— (A) in clause (ii), by striking and at the end; (B) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (iv); and (C) by inserting after clause (ii) the following: (iii) with respect to National Forest System land only, reforestation activities; and ; and (2) in subsection (b)(1), by adding at the end the following: (C) Reforestation priority The Secretary shall enter into good neighbor agreements under this section with respect to forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration services described in subsection (a)(4)(A)(iii) in accordance with subsection (e)(4)(C)(ii) of section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601). . 3. Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and make publicly available on the website of the Forest Service, a report that describes, with respect to the preceding year— (1) an evaluation of the degree to which the Secretary has achieved compliance with the requirements contained in the amendments made by this Act, including, as a result of those amendments, the number of acres covered by reforestation projects that follow unplanned events (such as wildfires); (2) the authorities, expressed by the number of acres replanted, used to replant forests impacted by unplanned events, including through— (A) stewardship contracts under section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c); and (B) good neighbor agreements under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a); (3) the number of acres of National Forest System land affected by, and the substance of reforestation needs on that land resulting from, unplanned events; and (4) the number of acres in need of reforestation under subsection (e)(1) of section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601).