Emergency fireshed management

(a) Fireshed management projects (1) In general The Secretary concerned, acting through a responsible official, shall carry out fireshed management projects in fireshed management areas designated under section 101 in accordance with this section. (2) Fireshed management projects The responsible official shall carry out the following forest and vegetation management activities as fireshed management projects under this section: (A) Conducting hazardous fuels management activities. (B) Creating fuel breaks and fire breaks. (C) Removing hazard trees, dead trees, dying trees, or trees at risk of dying, as determined by the responsible official. (D) Developing, approving, or conducting routine maintenance under a vegetation management, facility inspection, and operation and maintenance plan submitted under section 512(c)(1) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(1)). (E) Removing trees to address overstocking or crowding in a forest stand, consistent with the appropriate basal area of the forest stand as determined by the responsible official. (F) Using chemical or re-seeding and planting treatments to address insects and disease and control vegetation competition or invasive species. (G) Any activities recommended by an applicable fireshed assessment carried out under section 105. (H) Any activities recommended by an applicable community wildfire protection plan. (I) Any combination of activities described in this paragraph. (3) Emergency fireshed management (A) In general For any fireshed management area designated under section 101, the following shall have the force and effect of law: (i) Section 220.4(b) of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act), with respect to lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary. (ii) Section 46.150 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act), with respect to lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior. (iii) Section 402.05 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act). (iv) Section 800.12 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act). (B) Utilization of existing streamlined authorities in fireshed management areas (i) In general Fireshed management projects carried out under this section shall be considered authorized projects under the following categorical exclusions: (I) Section 603(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591b(a)). (II) Section 605(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591d(a)). (III) Section 606(b) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591e(b)). (IV) Section 40806(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592b(b)). (V) Section 4(c)(4) of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act (Public Law 106–506; 114 Stat. 2353). (ii) Additional emergency actions Subsection (d) of section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592c) shall apply to fireshed management projects under this section in the same manner as such subsection applies to authorized emergency actions (as defined in subsection (a) of such section 40807) under such section 40807. (iii) Use of expedited authorities In carrying out a fireshed management project, the Secretary shall apply a categorical exclusion under clause (i)— (I) in a manner consistent with the statute establishing such categorical exclusion; and (II) in any area— (aa) designated as suitable for timber production within the applicable forest plan; or (bb) where timber harvest activities are not prohibited. (iv) Fiscal Responsibility Act requirements In carrying out this section, the Secretary concerned shall ensure compliance with the amendments made to the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (Public Law 118–5). (v) Use of other authorities To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall use the authorities provided under this section in combination with other authorities to carry out fireshed management projects, including— (I) good neighbor agreements entered into under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a) (as amended by this Act); (II) stewardship contracting projects entered into under section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6591c) (as amended by this Act); (III) self-determination contracts and self-governance compact agreements entered into under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.); and (IV) agreements entered into under the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 3115a et seq.). (b) Expansion (1) HFRA amendments The Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 is amended— (A) in section 3 (16 U.S.C. 6502), by inserting at the end the following: (3) Local Government The term local government means a county, municipality, or special district. (4) Special District The term special district means a political subdivision of a State that— (A) has significant budgetary autonomy or control; (B) was created by or pursuant to the laws of the State for the purpose of performing a limited and specific governmental or proprietary function; and (C) is distinct from any other local government unit within the State.. (B) in section 603(c)(1) (16 U.S.C. 6591b(c)(1)), by striking 3000 acres and inserting 10,000 acres; (C) in section 603(c)(2)(B) (16 U.S.C. 6591b(c)(2)(B)), by striking Fire Regime Groups I, II, or III and inserting Fire Regime I, Fire Regime II, Fire Regime III, Fire Regime IV, or Fire Regime V; (D) in section 605(c)(1) (16 U.S.C. 6591d(c)(1)), by striking 3000 acres and inserting 10,000 acres; and (E) in section 606(g) (16 U.S.C. 6591e(g)), by striking 4,500 acres and inserting 10,000 acres. (2) Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act amendment Section 40806(d)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592b(d)(1)), by striking 3,000 acres and inserting 10,000 acres. (3) Lake Tahoe Restoration Act amendments Section 4(c)(4)(C) of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act (Public Law 106–506; 114 Stat. 2353) is amended— (A) by striking Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit; and (B) by inserting applicable to the area before the period at the end.