[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2049 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2049
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 18, 2021
Mr. Panetta (for himself, Mr. Simpson, Ms. Schrier, Mr. LaMalfa, Ms.
Spanberger, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Takano, and
Mrs. Dingell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural
Resources, 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 amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of
1974 to promote reforestation following unplanned events on Federal
land, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Repairing Existing Public Land by
Adding Necessary Trees Act'' or the ``REPLANT Act''.
SEC. 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
REPLANT Act''; 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) does not meet the conditions
for appropriate forest cover described
in paragraph (1);
``(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, taking into consideration species
composition and resilience, by establishing
young trees through--
``(I) natural regeneration;
``(II) natural regeneration with
site preparation; or
``(III) planting or direct seeding.
``(iv) Secretary.--The term `Secretary'
means the Secretary, acting through the Chief
of the Forest Service.
``(v) 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.
``(B) Requirement.--Each reforestation activity
under this section shall be carried out in accordance
with applicable Forest Service management practices and
definitions, including definitions relating to
silvicultural practices and forest management.
``(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 Secretary
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 Secretary
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 ``2030''.
(b) Reforestation Trust Fund.--Section 303 of Public Law 96-451 (16
U.S.C. 1606a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking paragraph (2);
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in the second sentence, by striking
``Proper adjustment'' and inserting the
following:
``(3) Adjustment of estimates.--Proper adjustment''; and
(ii) by striking ``(3) The amounts'' and
inserting the following:
``(2) Frequency.--The amounts''; and
(C) by striking the subsection designation and all
that follows through ``the Secretary'' in paragraph (1)
and inserting the following:
``(b) Transfers to Trust Fund.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; 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''.
SEC. 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 total number of acres of land reforested under each
authority of the Secretary under which reforestation projects
have been carried out;
(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).
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