S. 4944 — Introduced in Senate

II 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4944 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 22, 2022Mr. Burr (for himself, Mr. Manchin, and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To provide for the operation and establishment of, and procurement of supplies for, firewood banks, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Firewood Banks Act of 2022. 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Cooperating party The term cooperating party means a State, local, or Tribal government, a nonprofit organization, or a cooperative. (2) Federal land The term Federal Land means— (A) public lands (as defined in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702)); (B) trust land (as defined in section 3765 of title 38, United States Code); and (C) National Forest System land. (3) Firewood bank The term firewood bank means a site— (A) at which firewood is collected, processed, or stored; and (B) that is used by a cooperating party to distribute firewood to low-income or disabled individuals for personal, residential use. (4) Secretaries The term Secretaries means— (A) the Secretary of Energy; (B) the Secretary of the Interior; and (C) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. (5) Secretary concerned The term Secretary concerned means— (A) the Secretary of the Interior, in the case of Federal land administered by the Secretary of the Interior; and (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, in the case of Federal land administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. 3. Grants Using funds made available under section 40803(c)(17)(B) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(17)(B)), the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall provide financial assistance to a cooperating party for the operation of firewood banks, including for the procurement of— (1) personal protective equipment; (2) liability insurance policies; (3) processing equipment; and (4) supplies and materials procured on a regular basis. 4. Firewood banks pilot program (a) In general The Secretary of Energy, in collaboration with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall establish and carry out a pilot program (referred to in this section as the pilot program) to provide heat energy for residences of low-income and disabled individuals with wood-burning stoves. (b) Firewood banks on Federal land (1) In general Under the pilot program, the Secretary concerned may authorize 1 or more firewood banks to be established and operated on Federal land. (2) Requirements A firewood bank described in paragraph (1)— (A) shall occupy an area of not less than 1/2 acre and not more than 6 acres; (B) shall be able to store not fewer than 20 cords of firewood; and (C) may have privately or publicly owned equipment on site to process logs into firewood. (3) Cooperating parties The Secretary concerned may authorize or consult with cooperating parties— (A) to maintain the Federal land on which a firewood bank is established under this subsection; and (B) to operate the firewood bank. (4) Use of Federal land The Secretary concerned, or a cooperating party, as applicable, shall use the Federal land on which a firewood bank is established under this subsection exclusively as a firewood bank. (5) Permits The Secretary concerned may require a cooperating party to apply for and obtain a special use permit to establish and operate a firewood bank on Federal land under this subsection. (6) Liability The Secretary concerned shall not— (A) be liable for any action taken by the Secretary concerned or a cooperating party in establishing or operating a firewood bank on Federal land under this subsection; or (B) require a cooperating party to maintain a general liability insurance policy to establish and operate a firewood bank on Federal land under this subsection. (c) Securing supplies of firewood for firewood banks (1) In general Under the pilot program, the Secretary concerned shall— (A) designate trees for cutting and removal on Federal land by marking; and (B) make those trees available to firewood banks, consistent with this subsection. (2) Designation The Secretary concerned shall designate trees under paragraph (1)(A)— (A) in an area located within 10 miles of each firewood bank established under subsection (b); and (B) in other areas that the Secretary concerned determines to be appropriate. (3) Requirement The Secretary concerned shall designate trees under paragraph (1)(A) in a sufficient quantity to provide not less than 100 cords of firewood continuously to each firewood bank established under subsection (b). (4) No fee required (A) In general Any Federal employee or party designated by a cooperating party may cut, remove, and transport to a firewood bank a tree designated under paragraph (1)(A) without the cooperating party incurring any fee. (B) Limitations (i) Permits The Secretary concerned may require a cooperating party to apply for and obtain a permit for the cutting and removal of a tree designated under paragraph (1)(A). (ii) No significant damage to resources A Federal employee or a cooperating party shall not be permitted to significantly damage any resource while cutting or removing a tree designated under paragraph (1)(A). (5) Closed entry The Secretary concerned may close to entry an area with trees designated under paragraph (1)(A), or make that entry subject to such conditions as the Secretary concerned determines are necessary— (A) for periods of not longer than 60 consecutive calendar days; and (B) for not longer than 150 calendar days during any 1 calendar year. (d) Duration The authority to carry out the pilot program terminates on the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 5. Report (a) In general Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and 5 years thereafter, the Secretaries shall prepare a report describing the implementation of this Act. (b) Submission On completion of each report described in subsection (a), the Secretaries shall submit the report to— (1) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.