republic-os/legal/us/code/title-16/chapter-84/section-6591a.md

type, title, description, jurisdiction, corpus, kind, title_number, title_name, chapter_number, chapter_name, section, citation, status, release_point, release_date, source, source_url, source_identifier, source_file, source_hash, raw_snapshot_hash, text_hash, retrieved_at, confidence, tags

type	title	description	jurisdiction	corpus	kind	title_number	title_name	chapter_number	chapter_name	section	citation	status	release_point	release_date	source	source_url	source_identifier	source_file	source_hash	raw_snapshot_hash	text_hash	retrieved_at	confidence	tags
LegalText	16 U.S.C. § 6591a	Designation of treatment areas	us	united_states_code	code_section	16	CONSERVATION	84	HEALTHY FOREST RESTORATION	6591a	16 U.S.C. § 6591a	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc16@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t16/s6591a	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-16/usc16.xml	9ede8bcd93e13f144c997d48adb453b84693b649ad9fbd0550f2a52860f43fea	7be8950da5a93cac7c98e4576ce00340f2aba5e8e46d29915382c203c421d503	3432546497ec3edbd044c6a305ba1083cbb4f13c6301f27107cd3b8ad112acaf	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

16 U.S.C. § 6591a - Designation of treatment areas

Text

(a) Definition of declining forest health In this section, the term “declining forest health” means a forest that is experiencing—

(1) substantially increased tree mortality due to insect or disease infestation; or

(2) dieback due to infestation or defoliation by insects or disease.

(b) Designation of treatment areas (1) Initial areas Not later than 60 days after February 7, 2014, the Secretary shall, if requested by the Governor of the State, designate as part of an insect and disease treatment program 1 or more landscape-scale areas, such as subwatersheds (sixth-level hydrologic units, according to the System of Hydrologic Unit Codes of the United States Geological Survey), in at least 1 national forest in each State that is experiencing an insect or disease epidemic.

(2) Additional areas After the end of the 60-day period described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may designate additional landscape-scale areas under this section as needed to address insect or disease threats.

(c) Requirements To be designated a landscape-scale area under subsection (b), the area shall be—

(1) experiencing declining forest health, based on annual forest health surveys conducted by the Secretary;

(2) at risk of experiencing substantially increased tree mortality over the next 15 years due to insect or disease infestation, based on the most recent National Insect and Disease Risk Map published by the Forest Service; or

(3) in an area in which the risk of hazard trees poses an imminent risk to public infrastructure, health, or safety.

(d) Treatment of areas (1) In general The Secretary may carry out priority projects on Federal land in the areas designated under subsection (b)—

(A) to reduce the risk or extent of, or increase the resilience to, insect or disease infestation; or

(B) to reduce hazardous fuels.

(2) Authority Any project under paragraph (1) for which a public notice to initiate scoping is issued on or before September 30, 2023, may be carried out in accordance with subsections (b), (c), and (d) of section 6512 of this title, and sections 6514, 6515, and 6516 of this title.

(3) Effect Projects carried out under this subsection shall be considered authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects for purposes of the authorities described in paragraph (2).

(4) Report (A) In general In accordance with the schedule described in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall issue 2 reports on actions taken to carry out this subsection, including—

(i) an evaluation of the progress towards project goals; and

(ii) recommendations for modifications to the projects and management treatments.

(B) Schedule The Secretary shall—

(i) not earlier than September 30, 2018, issue the initial report under subparagraph (A); and

(ii) not earlier than September 30, 2024, issue the second report under that subparagraph.

(e) Tree retention The Secretary shall carry out projects under subsection (d) in a manner that maximizes the retention of old-growth and large trees, as appropriate for the forest type, to the extent that the trees promote stands that are resilient to insects and disease.

(Pub. L. 108–148, title VI, § 602, as added Pub. L. 113–79, title VIII, § 8204, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 915; amended Pub. L. 115–334, title VIII, §§ 8407(b), 8408, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4846, 4847.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Codification The authorities provided by each provision of, and each amendment made by, Pub. L. 115–334, as in effect on Sept. 30, 2023, to continue, and authorities to be carried out, until the later of Sept. 30, 2024, or the date specified in the provision of, or amendment made by, Pub. L. 115–334, see section 102(a) of Pub. L. 118–22, set out in an Extension of Agricultural Programs note under section 9001 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Amendments2018—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 115–334, § 8407(b)(1), substituted “subsection (b)—” and subpars. (A) and (B) for “subsection (b) to reduce the risk or extent of, or increase the resilience to, insect or disease infestation in the areas.” Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 8407(b)(2), substituted “2023” for “2018”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 115–334, § 8408, struck out subsec. (f). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2024.”