[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1764 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 582
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1764
To improve Federal activities relating to wildfires, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 31 (legislative day, May 30), 2023
Ms. Cortez Masto introduced the following bill; which was read twice
and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
November 21, 2024
Reported by Mr. Manchin, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve Federal activities relating to wildfires, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Western
Wildfire Support Act of 2023''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
<DELETED>Sec. 2. Definitions.
<DELETED>TITLE I--PREPARATION
<DELETED>Sec. 101. Firefighting accounts.
<DELETED>Sec. 102. Reimbursement for wildfires caused by military
training.
<DELETED>Sec. 103. Strategic wildland fire management planning.
<DELETED>Sec. 104. Accounts to assist communities in planning and
preparing for wildfires.
<DELETED>Sec. 105. Community support during disaster response.
<DELETED>TITLE II--WILDFIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION SUPPORT
<DELETED>Sec. 201. Wildfire detection equipment.
<DELETED>Sec. 202. Grant program for slip-on tank units.
<DELETED>Sec. 203. Assistance to States for operation of air tankers.
<DELETED>Sec. 204. Research and development of unmanned aircraft system
fire applications.
<DELETED>Sec. 205. Study on effects of drone incursions on wildfire
suppression.
<DELETED>Sec. 206. Study on wildfire detection equipment and
integration of artificial intelligence
technologies.
<DELETED>TITLE III--POST-FIRE RECOVERY SUPPORT
<DELETED>Sec. 301. Funding for online guides for post-fire assistance.
<DELETED>Sec. 302. Long-Term Burned Area Recovery account.
<DELETED>Sec. 303. Prize for wildfire-related invasive species
reduction.
<DELETED>SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> In this Act:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Congressional committees.--The term
``congressional committees'' means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Committee on Natural Resources and
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land''
means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) public lands (as defined in section
103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702));</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) units of the National Park
System;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) units of the National Wildlife Refuge
System;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) land held in trust by the United
States for the benefit of Indian Tribes or members of
an Indian Tribe; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) land in the National Forest
System.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) National forest system.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) In general.--The term ``National
Forest System'' has the meaning given the term in
section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C.
1609(a)).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Exclusion.--The term ``National Forest
System'' does not include--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) the national grasslands and
land utilization projects administered under
title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act
(7 U.S.C. 1010 et seq.); or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) National Forest System land
east of the 100th meridian.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Secretary of the Interior;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Secretary of
Agriculture.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary
concerned'' means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Secretary of the Interior, in the
case of Federal land under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary of the Interior; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, in the
case of Federal land under the jurisdiction of the
Secretary of Agriculture.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE I--PREPARATION</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 101. FIREFIGHTING ACCOUNTS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Establishment of Accounts.--There are established in
the Treasury of the United States the following accounts:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) The Firefighting Operations account for the
Department of Agriculture.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) The Firefighting Operations account for the
Department of the Interior.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Budget Activities Within Accounts.--The following
activities shall be specified for funding within each Firefighting
Operations account established by subsection (a):</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Ground-based firefighting
operations.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Aircraft use in firefighting
operations.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Ground-based firefighting operations.--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) Department of agriculture.--There is
authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2024 and
each fiscal year thereafter to the account established
by subsection (a)(1) not more than $3,000,000,000 for
ground-based firefighting operations.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Department of the interior.--There is
authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2024 and
each fiscal year thereafter to the account established
by subsection (a)(2) not more than $1,000,000,000 for
ground-based firefighting operations.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Aircraft use in firefighting operations.--
There is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2024 and
each fiscal year thereafter to the accounts established by
subsection (a), a total amount of not more than $500,000,000
for aircraft use in firefighting operations.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Presidential Budget Requests.--For fiscal year 2025
and each fiscal year thereafter, each Secretary concerned shall submit
through the budget request of the President and in accordance with
subsection (c), a request for amounts in the Wildland Fire Management
appropriation account of the Secretary concerned to carry out the
activities described in subsection (e).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Authorized Activities.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Secretaries shall use amounts
provided to the respective accounts established under
subsection (a) as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) The Secretary of Agriculture shall use
amounts appropriated under subsection (c)(1)(A) to
carry out management activities for active wildfires
through the Forest Service, except that none of the
amounts may be used for the operation of
aircraft.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) The Secretary of the Interior shall
use amounts appropriated under subsection (c)(1)(B) to
carry out management activities for active wildfires,
except that none of the amounts may be used for the
operation of aircraft.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) The Secretary concerned shall use
amounts appropriated under subsection (c)(2) to
acquire, by contract or purchase, and use aircraft,
including unmanned aerial systems, for operations
relating to wildland fires.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Limitation.--The Secretary concerned shall not
use to carry out any activity authorized by paragraph (1)(C)
amounts appropriated to accounts of the Secretary concerned
other than amounts in the accounts established by subsection
(a) specified for activities described in subsection
(b)(2).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Accounting Reports.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Each Secretary concerned shall
submit to the congressional committees monthly accounting
reports regarding the amounts that have been obligated and
expended under this section during the preceding month of the
applicable fiscal year.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Inclusions.--Each report under paragraph (1)
shall include a description of, with respect to the period
covered by the report--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) Federal ground-based equipment
costs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Federal aircraft use costs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) Federal personnel costs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) on-incident and off-incident support
costs; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) funding allocated from the Wildland
Fire Management account of the Secretary concerned to
pay for administrative costs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Requirements.--Each report under paragraph (1)
shall be prepared in accordance with applicable national fire
plan reporting procedures.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 102. REIMBURSEMENT FOR WILDFIRES CAUSED BY MILITARY
TRAINING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Reimbursement Required.--The Secretary of Defense
shall, on application by a State or Federal agency, reimburse the State
or Federal agency for the reasonable costs of the State or Federal
agency for services provided in connection with fire suppression as a
result of a fire caused by military training or other actions carried
out by the Armed Forces or employees of the Department of
Defense.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Limitation.--Services reimbursable under subsection
(a) shall be limited to services proximately related to the fire for
which reimbursement is sought.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Application.--Each application from a State or Federal
agency for reimbursement for costs under subsection (a) shall provide
an itemized request of the services covered by the application,
including the costs of the services.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Funds.--Reimbursements under subsection (a) shall be
made from amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Department of
Defense for operation and maintenance.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 103. STRATEGIC WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT
PLANNING.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Not later than September 30, 2026, the
Secretary concerned shall, in accordance with this section, establish a
series of spatial fire management plans.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Use of Existing Plans.--To comply with this section,
the Secretary concerned may use a fire management plan in existence on
the date of enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Updates.--To be valid, a spatial fire management plan
established under this section shall not be in use for longer than the
10-year period beginning on the date on which the plan is
established.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Sub-Unit Plans.--The Secretary concerned shall
establish a spatial fire management plan for each unit of Federal land
with more than 10 acres of burnable vegetation under the jurisdiction
of the Secretary concerned.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Contents.--For each spatial fire management plan
established under this section, the Secretary concerned shall--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) base the plans on a landscape-scale risk
assessment that includes--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) risks to firefighters;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) risks to communities;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) risks to highly valuable resources;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) other relevant considerations
determined by the Secretary concerned;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) include direction, represented in spatial
form, from land management plans and resource management
plans;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) in coordination with States, delineate
potential wildland fire operational delineations that--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) identify potential control locations;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) specify the places in which
firefighters will not be sent because of the presence
of unacceptable risk, including areas determined by the
Secretary concerned as--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) exceeding a certain
slope;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) containing too high of a
volume of hazardous fuels, under certain
weather conditions; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) containing other known
hazards;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) include a determination of average severe fire
weather for the plan area;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) include prefire planning provisions;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) include a plan for postfire activities that--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) would better enable a Burned Area
Emergency Response Team working on a large fire
incident to address emergency stabilization and erosion
quickly; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) specifies ways in which the Burned
Area Emergency Response Team would seek to prevent the
proliferation of invasive species in working on the
large fire incident; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) include, at a minimum, any other requirement
determined to be necessary by the Secretary
concerned.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Consistency With Management Plans.--The spatial fire
management plans established under this section shall be consistent
with the fire management objectives and land management objectives in
the applicable land management plan or resource management
plan.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (g) Revisions to Land Management Plans and Resource
Management Plans.--A revision to a land management plan or resource
management plan shall consider fire ecology and fire management in a
manner that facilitates the issuance of direction for an incident
response.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (h) Engagement During Land Management Planning.--A
supervisory employee of the Department of the Interior or the
Department of Agriculture that is funded through a Firefighting
Operations account established under section 101 shall participate
directly in the creation or revision of an applicable land management
plan or resource management plan to incorporate an assessment,
protocol, or plan developed under this Act into the planning
process.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 104. ACCOUNTS TO ASSIST COMMUNITIES IN PLANNING AND
PREPARING FOR WILDFIRES.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Establishment of Accounts.--There are established in
the Treasury of the United States the following accounts:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) The Community-Supported Land-Use Planning
Assistance account for the Department of Agriculture.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) The Community-Supported Land-Use Planning
Assistance account for the Department of the
Interior.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Budget Activities Within Accounts.--The following
activities shall be specified for funding within each Community-
Supported Land-Use Planning Assistance account established by
subsection (a):</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) The Firewise Program operated by the National
Fire Protection Association.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Community wildfire protection
programs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) The Fire-Adapted Communities Learning
Network.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Vegetation management by
communities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated for fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter
for the accounts established by subsection (a) such sums as are
necessary to carry out this section, not to exceed
$200,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Presidential Budget Requests.--For fiscal year 2025
and each fiscal year thereafter, each Secretary concerned shall submit
through the budget request of the President and in accordance with
subsection (c), a request for amounts in the Wildland Fire Management
appropriation account of the Secretary concerned to carry out the
activities described in subsection (b).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Authorized Activities.--The Secretary concerned shall
use amounts in the accounts established by subsection (a) as
follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) With respect to amounts appropriated for the
activity described in subsection (b)(1), the Secretary
concerned may--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) cosponsor the Firewise Program;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) support the expansion of the Firewise
Communities/USA Recognition Program to additional at-
risk communities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) With respect to amounts appropriated for the
activity described in subsection (b)(2), the Secretary
concerned may provide assistance to at-risk communities to
establish and revise--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) a community wildfire protection plan
(as defined in section 101 of the Healthy Forests
Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511)); or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) a community evacuation plan.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) With respect to amounts appropriated for the
activity described in subsection (b)(3), the Secretary
concerned shall establish a small grant program to address
local hazard reduction on Federal, State, or private land,
subject to the conditions that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) a grant provided under the program--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) may be awarded to an
organization in an at-risk community to
address, in a sole instance, a hazardous fuel
in a specific location, including piling and
burning, and implementing a prescribed fire on
private land;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) shall not exceed $20,000;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) shall require cost-sharing
assistance in an amount equal to not less than
10 percent of the amount of the
grant;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the work identified for funding under
the grant shall be accomplished by a team composed of,
at a minimum--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) a private citizen;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) a representative of a
nonprofit organization; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) a local fire department,
including a volunteer fire
department;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) to be eligible for a grant under the
program, a strategic plan outlining the means by which
the applicant will address a hazardous fuel shall be
submitted to the Secretary concerned; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) on completion of a grant project, the
grant recipient shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) submit to the Secretary
concerned a report; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) participate in training
another grant recipient during the following
fiscal year.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) With respect to amounts appropriated for the
activity described in subsection (b)(4), the Secretary
concerned may provide cost-sharing assistance for the
establishment and operation of a local program in an at-risk
community to assist homeowners in the disposal of brush and
slash generated by hazard reduction activities.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 105. COMMUNITY SUPPORT DURING DISASTER
RESPONSE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--The Secretaries shall establish a program
to train and certify a citizen who wishes to be able to volunteer to
assist the Secretaries during a wildland fire incident.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Service.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Secretaries shall establish
several categories of service for each manner in which a
volunteer certified under this section may provide
assistance.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Direct suppression of wildland fires.--No
volunteer certified under this section may engage in an
operation to directly suppress a wildland fire.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Direction.--A volunteer under this section
shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) report to a designee of an incident
commander prior to providing any assistance on a
wildland fire; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) operate continuously under the
direction of the designee while providing assistance on
a wildland fire.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Certification.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Criteria.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) In general.--The Secretaries shall
certify volunteers to provide assistance for each
category of service established under subsection
(b).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Establishment of criteria.--The
Secretaries shall establish criteria for a volunteer to
be certified for each category of service.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) Attendance.--Attendance at training
conducted under paragraph (2) shall be 1 of the
criteria established under subparagraph (B).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) Assessment.--The Secretaries shall
assess the knowledge, skills, or abilities, of a person
prior to certifying a person to become a
volunteer.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Training.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) In general.--The Secretaries shall
regularly conduct training for citizens who desire to
be certified as volunteers.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Content.--The training shall include,
at a minimum, a safety component in an effort to
minimize inherent threats to volunteers and maximize
the safety of a volunteer, to the maximum extent
practicable, as a volunteer provides assistance on a
wildland fire.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) Frequency.--The Secretaries shall
offer, at a minimum, 1 training session in each State
with significant wildfire risk, not less than every 2
years.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Identification.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) In general.--On the certification of a
volunteer, the Secretary concerned shall provide to the
volunteer a means of identification as a
volunteer.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Display.--A volunteer certified under
this section shall display, continuously while
assisting in a wildland fire, the means of
identification.</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE II--WILDFIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION SUPPORT</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 201. WILDFIRE DETECTION EQUIPMENT.</DELETED>
<DELETED> To the extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) expedite the placement of wildfire detection
equipment, such as sensors, cameras, and other relevant
equipment, in areas at risk of wildfire;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) expand the use of satellite data to assist
wildfire response; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) expedite any permitting required by the
Secretary concerned for the installation, maintenance, or
removal of wildfire detection equipment.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 202. GRANT PROGRAM FOR SLIP-ON TANK UNITS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--The Secretaries shall establish a program
to award to an eligible State or unit of local government each year
grants to acquire slip-on tank and pump units (referred to in this
section as ``slip-on units'') for a surge capacity of resources for
fire suppression.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Eligibility.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant
under this section, a State or unit of local government shall--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) submit an application at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretaries may require; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) contribute non-Federal funds in
accordance with paragraph (2).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Cost-share requirements.--The non-Federal
share of the cost of acquiring slip-on units using a grant
under this section shall be not less than 25 percent.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Use of Funds.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--Grants awarded under this section
shall be used only for the acquisition of not fewer than 30
slip-on units.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Restrictions.--A recipient of a grant under
this section--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) shall be responsible for the cost of
the maintenance and use of the slip-on units;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) may not use grant funds for a cost
described in subparagraph (A).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Requirements for Operation of Slip-On Units.--A
recipient of a grant under this section shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in maintaining and storing the slip-on units--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) store and mount a slip-on unit on a
vehicle only during--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) a period of extreme fire
danger; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) an active wildland
fire;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) designate a vehicle and personnel to
be used with each slip-on unit;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) make any necessary modification to a
designated vehicle to ensure compatibility with the use
of the slip-on unit;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) train designated personnel to use the
slip-on unit;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) ensure designated personnel possess
elementary wildland fire management skills, including
post-fire-front structure-protection tactics;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (F) maintain each slip-on unit in good,
usable condition for a period of not fewer than 20
years;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) during a large, active wildland fire--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) staff each designated vehicle equipped
with a slip-on unit with--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) a person designated under
paragraph (1)(B); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) a trained firefighter,
regardless of whether the trained firefighter
is paid, a volunteer, or off-duty but
paid;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) organize each designated vehicle
equipped with a slip-on unit into a team with other
designated vehicles under the direction of a qualified
task force leader; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) use each designated vehicle equipped
with a slip-on unit primarily for the purpose of
following behind the wildland fire front--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) to prevent homes from
igniting; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) to alert fire engines of
structures that have ignited; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) comply with any other requirements determined
to be necessary by the Secretaries, including any minimum
requirements for a slip-on unit and any additional required
equipment.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 203. ASSISTANCE TO STATES FOR OPERATION OF AIR
TANKERS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> The Secretary concerned may provide funding to States to
enable States to operate not more than 50 single-engine air tankers
if--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the single-engine air tanker is government-
owned and contractor-operated or government-owned and
government-operated;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) a State receiving funding for a single-engine
air tanker under this section shares the cost with the
Secretary of the acquisition and operation of the aircraft;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the single-engine air tanker--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) shall be used for initial attack;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) shall not be used for large fire
aviation support.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 204. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM
FIRE APPLICATIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Covered unmanned aircraft test range.--The
term ``covered unmanned aircraft test range'' means a test
range that is approved of or designated by the Administrator of
the Federal Aviation Administration for the testing of unmanned
aircraft systems, as required under section 44803 of title 49,
United States Code.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term ``unmanned
aircraft system'' means an unmanned aircraft and associated
elements (including communication links and the components that
control the unmanned aircraft) that are required for the
operator to operate safely and efficiently in the national
airspace system of the Federal Aviation
Administration.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Joint Fire Science Program.--The Secretary of the
Interior shall, acting through the Joint Fire Science Program, work
with covered unmanned aircraft test ranges to carry out research and
development of unmanned aircraft system fire applications.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior such sums as are
necessary to carry out this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 205. STUDY ON EFFECTS OF DRONE INCURSIONS ON WILDFIRE
SUPPRESSION.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Drone.--The term ``drone'' means an unmanned
aircraft system owned by a private individual or
entity.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Drone incursion.--The term ``drone incursion''
means the operation of a drone within any airspace for which
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration has
issued a temporary flight restriction because of a
wildfire.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the
Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the
Bureau of Land Management.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Study Required.--The Secretary, in consultation with
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest
Service, shall conduct a study on the effects of drone incursions on
wildfire suppression with respect to land managed by the Department of
the Interior or the Department of Agriculture.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Study Contents.--In conducting the study required
under subsection (b), the Secretary shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) determine, for each of the 5 most recent
calendar years--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the number of occurrences in which a
drone incursion interfered with wildfire suppression;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the effect of each occurrence
described in subparagraph (A) on--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) the length of time required to
achieve complete suppression;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) the effectiveness of aerial
firefighting responses; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (iii) the amounts expended by the
Federal Government; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of
various actions to prevent drone incursions, including--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the use of reasonable force to
disable, damage, or destroy a drone;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the seizure of a drone, including
seizure with a net device; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the dissemination of educational
materials relating to the effects of drone incursions
on wildfire suppression.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives a report describing--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the findings of the study required under
subsection (b); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) any recommendations of the Secretary relating
to those findings.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 206. STUDY ON WILDFIRE DETECTION EQUIPMENT AND
INTEGRATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
TECHNOLOGIES.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--The Secretaries shall conduct a study
on--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the effectiveness and limitations on the
deployment and application of each wildfire detection equipment
technology with respect to detection, confirmation,
geolocation, predictability of wildfire spread, suppression
resource management, post-fire forensics, and surface
rehabilitation;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) how each technology described in paragraph
(1), with proper and timely deployment and use, can provide for
the most effective and efficient means of dealing with the
threat and the reality of wildland fires;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the integration of artificial intelligence
with real-time imagery and weather data provided by wildfire
detection equipment technology; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) how the integration of artificial intelligence
described in paragraph (3) can enhance the value of each
wildfire detection equipment technology, individually and
collectively.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Submission and Public Availability.--Not later than 2
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall
submit to the congressional committees and make publicly available the
results of the study conducted under subsection (a).</DELETED>
<DELETED>TITLE III--POST-FIRE RECOVERY SUPPORT</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 301. FUNDING FOR ONLINE GUIDES FOR POST-FIRE
ASSISTANCE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Use of Services of Other Agencies.--Section 201(a) of
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5131(a)) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(8) post-disaster assistance.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--Section 201
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(42 U.S.C. 5131) is amended by adding at the end the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(e) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) In general.--The Administrator of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency may enter into a
cooperative agreement to provide funding to a State agency
established under subsection (c) to establish and operate a
website to provide information relating to post-fire recovery
funding and resources to a community or an individual impacted
by a wildland fire.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) Management.--A website created under this
subsection shall be--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) managed by the State agency;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) suitable for the residents of the
State of the State agency.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) Content.--The Administrator may enter into a
cooperative agreement to establish a website under this
subsection only to provide 1 or more of the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) A list of Federal, State, and local
sources of post-fire recovery funding or assistance
that may be available to a community after a
wildfire.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) A list of Federal, State, and local
sources of post-fire recovery funding or assistance
that may be available to an individual impacted by a
wildfire.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) A technical guide that lists and
explains the costs and benefits of alternatives
available to a community to mitigate the impacts of
wildfire and prepare for potential flooding.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(4) Cooperation.--A State agency that enters
into a cooperative agreement under this subsection shall
cooperate with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of
Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency in developing a website under this
subsection.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(5) Updates.--A State agency that receives
funding to establish a website under this subsection shall
update the website not less than once every 6
years.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 302. LONG-TERM BURNED AREA RECOVERY ACCOUNT.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Establishment of Account.--There is established in the
Treasury of the United States the Long-Term Burned Area Recovery
account for the Department of Agriculture.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated for fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter
for the account established by subsection (a) such sums as are
necessary to carry out the activities described in subsection (d), not
to exceed $100,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Presidential Budget Requests.--For fiscal year 2025
and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
submit through the budget request of the President and in accordance
with subsection (b), a request for amounts in the Wildland Fire
Management appropriation account to carry out the activities described
in subsection (d).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Authorized Activities.--The Secretary of Agriculture
shall use amounts in the account established by subsection (a) for
rehabilitation projects--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) that begin not earlier than 1 year after the
date on which the wildfire was contained;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) that are--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) scheduled to be completed not later
than 3 years after the date on which the wildfire was
contained; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) located at sites impacted by wildfire
on non-Federal or Federal land;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) that restore the functions of an ecosystem or
protect life or property; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) not less than 10 percent of the total costs of
which are paid for with non-Federal funds.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Prioritization of Funding.--The Secretary of
Agriculture shall prioritize, on a nationwide basis, projects for which
funding requests are submitted under this section, based on--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) downstream effects on water resources;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) public safety.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 303. PRIZE FOR WILDFIRE-RELATED INVASIVE SPECIES
REDUCTION.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Section 7001(d) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation,
Management, and Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 742b note; Public Law 116-9)
is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) by striking ``paragraph (8)(A)'' each place it
appears and inserting ``paragraph (9)(A)'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) by striking ``paragraph (8)(B)'' each place it
appears and inserting ``paragraph (9)(B)'';</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph
(9);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) by inserting after paragraph (7) the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(8) Theodore roosevelt genius prize for
management of wildfire-related invasive species.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) Definitions.--In this
paragraph:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) Board.--The term `Board'
means the Management of Wildfire-Related
Invasive Species Technology Advisory Board
established by subparagraph (C)(i).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) Prize competition.--The
term `prize competition' means the Theodore
Roosevelt Genius Prize for the management of
wildfire-related invasive species established
under subparagraph (B).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) Authority.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of the Western Wildfire
Support Act of 2023, the Secretary shall establish
under section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology
Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) a prize
competition, to be known as the `Theodore Roosevelt
Genius Prize for the management of wildfire-related
invasive species'--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) to encourage technological
innovation with the potential to advance the
mission of the National Invasive Species
Council with respect to the management of
wildfire-related invasive species;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) to award 1 or more prizes
annually for a technological advancement that
manages wildfire-related invasive
species.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(C) Advisory board.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) Establishment.--There is
established an advisory board, to be known as
the `Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive
Species Technology Advisory Board'.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) Composition.--The Board
shall be composed of not fewer than 9 members
appointed by the Secretary, who shall provide
expertise in--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(I) invasive
species;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(II) biology;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(III) technology
development;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(IV)
engineering;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(V) economics;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(VI) business
development and management;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(VII) wildfire;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(VIII) any other
discipline, as the Secretary determines
to be necessary to achieve the purposes
of this paragraph.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iii) Duties.--Subject to clause
(iv), with respect to the prize competition,
the Board shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(I) select a
topic;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(II) issue a problem
statement;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(III) advise the
Secretary regarding any opportunity for
technological innovation to manage
wildfire-related invasive species;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(IV) advise winners of
the prize competition regarding
opportunities to pilot and implement
winning technologies in relevant
fields, including in partnership with
conservation organizations, Federal or
State agencies, federally recognized
Indian Tribes, private entities, and
research institutions with expertise or
interest relating to the management of
wildfire-related invasive
species.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iv) Consultation.--In selecting
a topic and issuing a problem statement for the
prize competition, the Board shall consult
widely with Federal and non-Federal
stakeholders, including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(I) 1 or more Federal
agencies with jurisdiction over the
management of invasive
species;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(II) 1 or more Federal
agencies with jurisdiction over the
management of wildfire;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(III) 1 or more State
agencies with jurisdiction over the
management of invasive
species;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(IV) 1 or more State
agencies with jurisdiction over the
management of wildfire;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(V) 1 or more State,
regional, or local wildlife
organizations, the mission of which
relates to the management of invasive
species; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(VI) 1 or more wildlife
conservation groups, technology
companies, research institutions,
institutions of higher education,
industry associations, or individual
stakeholders with an interest in the
management of wildfire-related invasive
species.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(v) Requirements.--The Board
shall comply with all requirements under
paragraph (9)(A).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(D) Administration by the national
invasive species council.--The Secretary, acting
through the Director of the National Invasive Species
Council, shall administer the prize
competition.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(E) Judges.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) Appointment.--The Secretary
shall appoint not fewer than 3 judges who
shall, except as provided in clause (ii),
select the 1 or more annual winners of the
prize competition.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) Determination by
secretary.--The judges appointed under clause
(i) shall not select any annual winner of the
prize competition if the Secretary makes a
determination that, in any fiscal year, none of
the technological advancements entered into the
prize competition merits an award.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(F) Report to congress.--Not later than
60 days after the date on which a cash prize is awarded
under this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives a report on the prize competition that
includes--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) a statement by the Board
that describes the activities carried out by
the Board relating to the duties described in
subparagraph (C)(iii);</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) a description of the 1 or
more annual winners of the prize competition;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(iii) a statement by 1 or more
of the judges appointed under subparagraph (E)
that explains the basis on which the 1 or more
winners of the prize competition was
selected.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(G) Termination of authority.--The Board
and all authority provided under this paragraph shall
terminate on December 31, 2028.''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) in paragraph (9) (as so redesignated)--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in subparagraph (A), in the matter
preceding clause (i), by striking ``or (7)(C)(i)'' and
inserting ``(7)(C)(i), or (8)(C)(i)''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in subparagraph (B)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``or (7)(D)(i)'' and inserting
``(7)(D)(i), or (8)(D)(i)''; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) in clause (i)(VII), by
striking ``and (7)(E)'' and inserting ``(7)(E),
and (8)(E)''.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Western Wildfire
Support Act of 2024''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--PREPARATION
Sec. 101. Firefighting account transparency.
Sec. 102. Reimbursement for wildfires caused by military training.
Sec. 103. Strategic wildland fire management planning.
Sec. 104. Study on integrating local firefighters into wildfire
response.
TITLE II--WILDFIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION SUPPORT
Sec. 201. Wildfire detection equipment.
Sec. 202. Slip-on tank units.
Sec. 203. Research and development of unmanned aircraft system fire
applications.
Sec. 204. Study on drone incursions on wildfire suppression.
Sec. 205. Study on modernizing wildfire response technologies.
TITLE III--POST-FIRE RECOVERY SUPPORT
Sec. 301. Funding for online guides for post-disaster assistance.
Sec. 302. Post-fire management and recovery.
Sec. 303. Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account.
Sec. 304. Prize for wildfire-related invasive species reduction.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Congressional committees.--The term ``congressional
committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(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) units of the National Park System;
(C) units of the National Wildlife Refuge System;
(D) land held in trust by the United States for the
benefit of Indian Tribes or members of an Indian Tribe;
and
(E) land in the National Forest System.
(3) Fireshed.--The term ``fireshed'' means a geographically
delineated forest landscape, within which a fire ignition would
threaten homes, communities, or critical infrastructure.
(4) National forest system.--
(A) In general.--The term ``National Forest
System'' has the meaning given the term in section
11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
(B) Exclusion.--The term ``National Forest System''
does not include any forest reserve not created from
the public domain.
(5) Resource management plan.--The term ``resource
management plan'' has the meaning given the term in section 101
of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C.
6511).
(6) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means--
(A) the Secretary of the Interior; and
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture.
(7) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned''
means--
(A) the Secretary of the Interior, in the case of
Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of
the Interior; and
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture, in the case of
Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of
Agriculture.
TITLE I--PREPARATION
SEC. 101. FIREFIGHTING ACCOUNT TRANSPARENCY.
(a) Annual Reporting.--Section 104(a) of division O of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a-2(a)), is
amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``the fiscal year'' and all that follows through ``this
division,'' and inserting ``each fiscal year,''; and
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``report with respect to
the additional new budget authority;'' and inserting ``report
on the amounts obligated and the amounts expended from Wildland
Fire Management accounts, including any amounts obligated or
expended using additional new budget authority under section
251(b)(2)(F) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(F)), in the preceding
fiscal year;''.
(b) Inclusions.--Section 104(b) of division O of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a-2(b)), is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``a statistically significant sample of large
fires, including an analysis for each fire'' and inserting
``each catastrophic wildfire described in subsection (c),
including an analysis for each such catastrophic wildfire'';
and
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``by fire size'' and all
that follows through the semicolon at the end and inserting the
following: ``by--
``(A) the total ground-based operations costs;
``(B) the total aircraft operations costs;
``(C) the total personnel costs;
``(D) the total on-incident and off-incident
support costs;
``(E) the total funding allocated from the Wildland
Fire Management account of the Secretary of the
Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture (as
applicable) to pay for administrative costs; and
``(F) any other relevant factors, as determined by
the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of
Agriculture (as applicable);''.
(c) Catastrophic Wildfire Described.--Section 104 of division O of
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1748a-2), is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Catastrophic Wildfire Described.--A catastrophic wildfire
referred to in subsection (b)(3) is a wildfire incident or wildfire
complex that--
``(1) requires the mobilization or use of Federal
firefighting resources;
``(2)(A) burns at least 100,000 acres of land; or
``(B) burns at least 50,000 acres of land, with a 50
percent or greater portion at high severity; and
``(3)(A) results in total suppression costs of $50,000,000
or more;
``(B) destroys 1 or more primary residences; or
``(C) directly results in the death of 1 or more
individuals.''.
SEC. 102. REIMBURSEMENT FOR WILDFIRES CAUSED BY MILITARY TRAINING.
(a) Mutual Aid.--In accordance with section 2 of the Act of May 27,
1955 (42 U.S.C. 1856a) (commonly known as the ``Reciprocal Fire
Protection Act''), the Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into
reciprocal agreements with State agencies for mutual aid in furnishing
fire suppression services.
(b) Reimbursements.--Each reciprocal agreement entered into under
subsection (a) shall provide for the reimbursement of the State agency
that is a party to the agreement for fire suppression services provided
by the State agency as a result of a fire caused by military training
or other planned actions carried out by the Department of Defense in
support of military operations.
(c) Limitation.--Services reimbursable under subsection (b) shall
be limited to services directly attributable to the fire for which
reimbursement is sought.
(d) Application.--Each application from a State agency for
reimbursement for services under subsection (b) shall provide an
itemized request of the services covered by the application, including
the costs of the services.
(e) Funds.--Reimbursements under subsection (b) shall be made from
amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for
operation and maintenance.
(f) Existing Agreements.--An agreement in effect as of the date of
enactment of this Act shall be considered an agreement entered into
under subsection (a) if the agreement otherwise meets the requirements
of such an agreement under this section.
SEC. 103. STRATEGIC WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANNING.
(a) In General.--Not later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary
concerned shall review existing spatial fire management policies for
each fireshed on Federal land and issue, as appropriate, new or revised
policies that incorporate the best available science and planning
tools.
(b) Requirements.--Spatial fire management policies issued under
subsection (a) shall--
(1) be routinely reviewed and updated--
(A) to include forest management activities or
changes in accessibility;
(B) not later than 1 year after the date on which a
wildfire incident has occurred within the applicable
fireshed; and
(C) not less frequently than once every 10 years;
(2) identify potential wildfire and smoke risks to first
responders, communities, critical infrastructure, and high-
value resources;
(3) be consistent with any resource management plan
developed for the applicable fireshed;
(4) in coordination with any State that includes that
fireshed, delineate potential wildland fire operational
delineations that--
(A) identify potential wildfire control locations;
and
(B) specify the places in which risk to wildfire
responders may be elevated as a result of--
(i) exceeding a certain slope for the
landscape;
(ii) containing an excess of hazardous
fuels such that a threat would be posed under
severe fire weather conditions; or
(iii) containing other known hazards;
(5) include a description of the weather conditions for the
fireshed that would comprise severe fire weather conditions;
and
(6) include other prefire planning provisions relevant to
wildfire response, at the discretion of the Secretary
concerned.
(c) Wildfire Consideration During Land Management Planning.--To the
maximum extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall include, on a
team carrying out any development or revision of a resource management
plan for Federal land containing 1 more firesheds, an employee that was
involved in the development of the spatial fire management policies for
that fireshed.
SEC. 104. STUDY AND REPORT ON INTEGRATING LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS INTO
WILDFIRE RESPONSE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the
Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration and in coordination with
the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, shall--
(1) conduct a study on the gaps in training for structural
firefighters in high wildfire risk areas; and
(2) submit to the congressional committees a report
describing the results of the study conducted under paragraph
(1).
(b) Inclusions.--The report submitted under subsection (a)(2) shall
include--
(1) a summary of existing coordination practices between
Federal wildland firefighters and State, local, or Tribal
firefighters;
(2) an analysis of the differences in best response
practices for State, local, or Tribal firefighters when
responding to a fire incident that threatens a single structure
as compared to a wildfire that threatens a community;
(3) existing training modules, or gaps in existing training
modules, available through the National Fire Academy to train
State, local, or Tribal firefighters on best response practices
for a wildfire that threatens a community; and
(4) an estimated cost and spending plan to address any gaps
in existing training modules described in paragraph (3).
TITLE II--WILDFIRE DETECTION AND SUPPRESSION SUPPORT
SEC. 201. WILDFIRE DETECTION EQUIPMENT.
To the extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall--
(1) expedite the placement of wildfire detection equipment,
such as sensors, cameras, and other relevant equipment, in
areas at risk of wildfire;
(2) expand the use of satellite data to improve wildfire
detection and response;
(3) expedite any permitting required by the Secretary
concerned for the installation, maintenance, or removal of
wildfire detection equipment;
(4) use unmanned aerial vehicles to assess wildland fires
in their incipient stages to determine the appropriate initial
response actions;
(5) review permitting described in paragraph (3) and
procurement requirements for wildfire detection equipment
within the context of modern and innovative technology; and
(6) annually provide a forum for companies engaging in the
development and testing of emergent wildland fire technology to
engage with wildland fire managers.
SEC. 202. SLIP-ON TANKER UNITS.
(a) Financial Assistance for Acquisition of Firefighting Slip-on
Tanker Units.--Section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)) is amended by inserting ``and Indian
Tribes'' after ``local governments''.
(b) Reporting Requirement.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall submit
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives an annual report on the implementation of
section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)), including a description of--
(A) the total number of slip-on tanker units
purchased with financial assistance provided by the
Secretary of the Interior under that section in the
preceding year, by State;
(B) the number of requests received by the
Secretary of the Interior for financial assistance
under that section to purchase slip-on tanker units in
the preceding year; and
(C) any barriers identified by the Secretary of the
Interior to the ability of local governments and Indian
Tribes to participate in the pilot program established
under that section.
(2) Timing.--
(A) Initial report.--The Secretary of the Interior
shall submit the first report required under paragraph
(1) not later than October 1, 2024.
(B) Sunset.--The requirements of this subsection
shall expire on October 1, 2028.
(c) Integration Into Wildfire Response.--The Secretaries, in
coordination with recipients of financial assistance for slip-on tanker
units provided under section 40803(c)(5) of the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(5)), shall--
(1) in coordination with the Administrator of the U.S. Fire
Administration, promulgate guidance for the mobilization of
slip-on tanker units for wildfire response;
(2) as practicable, incorporate mobilized slip-on tanker
units into resource tracking systems; and
(3) collaborate with the Administrator of the U.S. Fire
Administration regarding any necessary training for operators
of slip-on tanker units.
SEC. 203. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM FIRE
APPLICATIONS.
(a) Definition of Unmanned Aircraft System.--In this section, the
term ``unmanned aircraft system'' means an unmanned aircraft and
associated elements (including, if applicable, communication links and
the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required
for the operator to operate safely and efficiently.
(b) Research.--The Secretaries shall, acting through the Joint Fire
Science Program, work with universities and other research institutions
to carry out research and development on the wildfire response
applications of unmanned aircraft systems.
(c) Testing.--The Secretaries may coordinate with the Administrator
of the Federal Aviation Administration to test an unmanned aircraft
system developed under this section at an unmanned aircraft test range
in accordance with section 44803 of title 49, United States Code.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretaries such sums as are necessary to carry out
this section.
SEC. 204. STUDY ON DRONE INCURSIONS ON WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(2) Drone.--The term ``drone'' means an unmanned aircraft
system owned by a private individual or entity.
(3) Drone incursion.--The term ``drone incursion'' means
the operation of a drone within any airspace for which the
Administrator has issued a temporary flight restriction because
of a wildfire.
(b) Study Required.--The Administrator, in consultation with the
Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, acting
through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall conduct a study on the
effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression with respect to
land managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of
Agriculture.
(c) Study Contents.--In conducting the study required under
subsection (b), the Administrator shall--
(1) determine, for each of the 5 most recent calendar
years--
(A) the number of occurrences in which a drone
incursion interfered with wildfire suppression; and
(B) the estimated effect of each occurrence
described in subparagraph (A) on--
(i) the length of time required to achieve
complete suppression;
(ii) any associated delay in the fielding
of aerial firefighting response units; and
(iii) the amounts expended by the Federal
Government; and
(2) evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of various
actions to prevent drone incursions, including--
(A) the use of counter-drone radio towers;
(B) the use of reasonable force to disable, damage,
or destroy a drone;
(C) the seizure of a drone, including seizure with
a net device; and
(D) the dissemination of educational materials
relating to the effects of drone incursions on wildfire
suppression.
(d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the congressional
committees, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of
the House of Representatives a report describing--
(1) the findings of the study required under subsection
(b); and
(2) any recommendations relating to those findings.
SEC. 205. STUDY ON MODERNIZING WILDFIRE RESPONSE TECHNOLOGIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretaries shall conduct a study on--
(1) necessary improvements to radio communications systems
and infrastructure during wildland fire or prescribed fire
operations, including--
(A) an assessment of the quality and reliability of
existing radio infrastructure;
(B) for any instance in which existing radio
communications infrastructure has failed, an assessment
of the impacts on forest management or wildfire
response activities;
(C) a comparison of existing options to improve on-
the-ground communications; and
(D) a cost analysis and estimated timeline to
install the most feasible option identified under
subparagraph (C);
(2) real-time or near-real-time situational awareness tools
for operational firefighters, including--
(A) standards and requirements for such tools to
ensure interoperability between Federal firefighting
entities and applicable State, local, Tribal, or other
partners;
(B) any requirements for additional remote sensing
and mapping capabilities to fully leverage such
situational awareness tools; and
(C) a cost comparison between commercially
available systems and internally developed systems; and
(3) wildland fire predictive modeling, including--
(A) an analysis of the data required to reduce
predictive error for existing or developing models;
(B) an analysis of computing needs to more swiftly
or accurately model wildland fire using existing or
developing models;
(C) the feasibility of using artificial
intelligence for wildland fire modeling; and
(D) existing or developing wildland fire predictive
models that could assist with establishing safe
conditions for igniting a prescribed fire.
(b) Submission and Public Availability.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit
to the congressional committees and make publicly available the results
of the study conducted under subsection (a).
TITLE III--POST-FIRE RECOVERY SUPPORT
SEC. 301. FUNDING FOR ONLINE GUIDES FOR POST-DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
(a) Use of Services of Other Agencies.--Section 201(a) of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5131(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) post-disaster assistance.''.
(b) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--Section 201 of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 5131) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Funding for Online Guides for Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency may enter into cooperative
agreements to provide funding or technical assistance to a
State agency designated or established under subsection (c) to
establish, update, or operate a website to provide information
relating to post-disaster recovery funding and resources to a
community or an individual impacted by a major disaster or
emergency.
``(2) Management.--A website established, updated, or
operated under this subsection shall be--
``(A) managed by the State agency; and
``(B) suitable for the residents of the State of
the State agency.
``(3) Content.--The Administrator may provide funding to a
State agency under this subsection to establish, update, or
operate a website that provides only 1 or more of the
following:
``(A) A list of Federal, State, and local sources
of post-disaster recovery funding or assistance that
may be available to a community after a disaster or
emergency.
``(B) A list of Federal, State, and local sources
of post-disaster recovery funding or assistance that
may be available to an individual impacted by a major
disaster or emergency.
``(C) A technical guide that lists and explains the
costs and benefits of alternatives available to a
community to mitigate the impacts of a major disaster
or emergency and prepare for sequential hazards, such
as flooding after a wildfire.
``(4) Cooperation.--A State agency that receives funding or
technical assistance to establish, update, or operate a website
under this subsection shall cooperate with the Secretary of the
Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development, the Administrator of the Small
Business Administration, and the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency in establishing, updating, or
operating the website under this subsection.
``(5) Updates.--A State agency that receives funding to
establish, update, or operate a website under this subsection
shall update the website not less frequently than once every
180 days.''.
SEC. 302. POST-FIRE MANAGEMENT AND RECOVERY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall establish 1 or
more permanent Burned Area Emergency Response Teams (referred to in
this section as a ``BAER Team'') to coordinate immediate post-wildfire
emergency stabilization and erosion planning efforts.
(b) Requirements.--A BAER Team shall--
(1) survey the landscape affected by a wildfire to
determine burn severity;
(2) identify and remove, as necessary, dead or dying trees
that may pose an immediate hazard to individuals, communities,
or critical infrastructure;
(3) stabilize or remove hazardous materials resulting from
a wildfire that may pose an immediate hazard to individuals,
communities, or the environment;
(4) conduct emergency landscape stabilization and erosion
prevention work, prioritizing efforts that ensure public
safety;
(5) prevent the proliferation and spread of invasive
species;
(6) assist with informing the public of hazards resulting
from a wildfire;
(7) collaborate, as necessary, with activities under
section 303; and
(8) conduct such other work as the Secretary concerned
determines to be necessary.
(c) Duration.--To the maximum extent practicable, a BAER Team shall
coordinate and respond to immediate post-wildfire emergency
stabilization and erosion planning needs for a period of not more than
1 year after the date of containment of a wildfire.
(d) Funding.--The Secretary concerned may use to carry out this
section funds made available by section 40803(c)(16) of the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592(c)(16)).
SEC. 303. LONG-TERM BURNED AREA REHABILITATION ACCOUNT.
(a) Establishment of Account.--There is established in the Treasury
of the United States the Long-Term Burned Area Rehabilitation account
for the Department of Agriculture.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter for
the account established by subsection (a) such sums as are necessary to
carry out the activities described in subsection (d), not to exceed
$100,000,000.
(c) Presidential Budget Requests.--For fiscal year 2026 and each
fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit
through the budget request of the President and in accordance with
subsection (b), a request for amounts in the National Forest System
appropriation account to carry out the activities described in
subsection (d).
(d) Authorized Activities.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall use
amounts in the account established by subsection (a) for rehabilitation
projects located at sites impacted by a wildfire or post-wildfire
flooding primarily on Federal land, but may include areas on non-
Federal land, that--
(1) restore the functions of an ecosystem, including--
(A) identifying areas where natural regeneration is
unlikely to occur;
(B) revegetation and reforestation, including
coordinating any necessary site preparation, salvage
harvesting, and replanting;
(C) watershed restoration;
(D) invasive species mitigation and removal; and
(E) wildlife habitat restoration; or
(2) repair or replace infrastructure or facilities critical
for land management activities.
(e) Duration of Activities.--A rehabilitation project under
subsection (d) shall--
(1) begin not earlier than the date on which the wildfire
was contained; and
(2) be completed not later than 5 years after the date on
which the wildfire was contained.
(f) Agreement Authority.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture may enter to
agreements with non-Federal entities to carry out activities
described in subsection (d).
(2) Cost share.--The non-Federal share of the costs of
implementing activities under an agreement entered into under
paragraph (1)--
(A) shall be not more than 20 percent; and
(B) may include in-kind contributions.
(3) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection--
(A) requires the Secretary of Agriculture to enter
into agreements with non-Federal entities to carry out
activities described in subsection (d); or
(B) limits the effect of the prioritization
requirements under subsection (g).
(g) Prioritization of Funding.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall
prioritize, on a nationwide basis, projects for which funding requests
are submitted under this section based on downstream effects on water
resources.
(h) Reporting.--Beginning in fiscal year 2027, and each fiscal year
thereafter, the Secretary of Agriculture shall annually submit to
Congress a report on the burned area recovery work performed using--
(1) amounts from the account established by subsection (a);
(2) amounts made available under the Act of June 9, 1930
(16 U.S.C. 576 et seq.); and
(3) amounts from the Reforestation Trust Fund established
by section 303(a) of Public Law 96-451 (16 U.S.C. 1606a(a)).
SEC. 304. PRIZE FOR WILDFIRE-RELATED INVASIVE SPECIES REDUCTION.
Section 7001(d) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation,
Management, and Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 742b note; Public Law 116-9)
is amended--
(1) by striking ``paragraph (8)(A)'' each place it appears
and inserting ``paragraph (9)(A)'';
(2) by striking ``paragraph (8)(B)'' each place it appears
and inserting ``paragraph (9)(B)'';
(3) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (9);
(4) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
``(8) Theodore roosevelt genius prize for management of
wildfire-related invasive species.--
``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Board.--The term `Board' means the
Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive Species
Technology Advisory Board established by
subparagraph (C)(i).
``(ii) Prize competition.--The term `prize
competition' means the Theodore Roosevelt
Genius Prize for the management of wildfire-
related invasive species established under
subparagraph (B).
``(B) Authority.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of the Western Wildfire Support Act
of 2024, the Secretary shall establish under section 24
of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) a prize competition, to be known
as the `Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for the
management of wildfire-related invasive species'--
``(i) to encourage technological innovation
with the potential to advance the mission of
the National Invasive Species Council with
respect to the management of wildfire-related
invasive species; and
``(ii) to award 1 or more prizes annually
for a technological advancement that manages
wildfire-related invasive species.
``(C) Advisory board.--
``(i) Establishment.--There is established
an advisory board, to be known as the
`Management of Wildfire-Related Invasive
Species Technology Advisory Board'.
``(ii) Composition.--The Board shall be
composed of not fewer than 9 members appointed
by the Secretary, who shall provide expertise
in--
``(I) invasive species;
``(II) biology;
``(III) technology development;
``(IV) engineering;
``(V) economics;
``(VI) business development and
management;
``(VII) wildfire; and
``(VIII) any other discipline, as
the Secretary determines to be
necessary to achieve the purposes of
this paragraph.
``(iii) Duties.--Subject to clause (iv),
with respect to the prize competition, the
Board shall--
``(I) select a topic;
``(II) issue a problem statement;
``(III) advise the Secretary
regarding any opportunity for
technological innovation to manage
wildfire-related invasive species; and
``(IV) advise winners of the prize
competition regarding opportunities to
pilot and implement winning
technologies in relevant fields,
including in partnership with
conservation organizations, Federal or
State agencies, federally recognized
Indian Tribes, private entities, and
research institutions with expertise or
interest relating to the management of
wildfire-related invasive species.
``(iv) Consultation.--In selecting a topic
and issuing a problem statement for the prize
competition, the Board shall consult widely
with Federal and non-Federal stakeholders,
including--
``(I) 1 or more Federal agencies
with jurisdiction over the management
of invasive species;
``(II) 1 or more Federal agencies
with jurisdiction over the management
of wildfire;
``(III) 1 or more State agencies
with jurisdiction over the management
of invasive species;
``(IV) 1 or more State agencies
with jurisdiction over the management
of wildfire;
``(V) 1 or more State, regional, or
local wildlife organizations, the
mission of which relates to the
management of invasive species; and
``(VI) 1 or more wildlife
conservation groups, technology
companies, research institutions,
institutions of higher education,
industry associations, or individual
stakeholders with an interest in the
management of wildfire-related invasive
species.
``(v) Requirements.--The Board shall comply
with all requirements under paragraph (9)(A).
``(D) Administration by the national invasive
species council.--The Secretary, acting through the
Executive Director of the National Invasive Species
Council, shall administer the prize competition and
perform the duties described in paragraph (9)(B)(i).
``(E) Judges.--
``(i) Appointment.--The Secretary shall
appoint not fewer than 3 judges who shall,
except as provided in clause (ii), select the 1
or more annual winners of the prize
competition.
``(ii) Determination by secretary.--The
judges appointed under clause (i) shall not
select any annual winner of the prize
competition if the Secretary makes a
determination that, in any fiscal year, none of
the technological advancements entered into the
prize competition merits an award.
``(F) Report to congress.--Not later than 60 days
after the date on which a cash prize is awarded under
this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives a report on the prize competition that
includes--
``(i) a statement by the Board that
describes the activities carried out by the
Board relating to the duties described in
subparagraph (C)(iii);
``(ii) a description of the 1 or more
annual winners of the prize competition; and
``(iii) a statement by 1 or more of the
judges appointed under subparagraph (E) that
explains the basis on which the 1 or more
winners of the prize competition was selected.
``(G) Termination of authority.--The Board and all
authority provided under this paragraph shall terminate
on December 31, 2028.''; and
(5) in paragraph (9) (as so redesignated)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding
clause (i), by striking ``or (7)(C)(i)'' and inserting
``(7)(C)(i), or (8)(C)(i)''; and
(B) in subparagraph (C)--
(i) in clause (i), by inserting ``and the
amount of the initial cash prize awarded for a
year under paragraph (8)'' after ``subparagraph
(B)(i)(IX)''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) Additional wildfire cash prizes.--
If the Secretary determines that funds are
available for an additional cash prize under
the prize competition under paragraph (8) for a
year, the Secretary shall determine the amount
of the additional cash prize.''.
Calendar No. 582
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1764
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve Federal activities relating to wildfires, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
November 21, 2024
Reported with an amendment