Cooperative agreements to address mountain pine beetle infestations

(a) Cooperative agreement authorization The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, may enter into a cooperative agreement with a covered entity to provide for activities to support the detection, treatment, and mitigation of mountain pine beetle infestations on lands subject to the jurisdiction of the Secretary or such covered entity, which may include the following: (1) Coordinated monitoring and data sharing. (2) Joint planning and implementation of projects. (3) Processing of and increased processing capacity for beetle-killed or beetle-infested trees. (4) Hazard reduction in areas affected by mountain pine beetle infestations. (5) Other activities determined necessary by the Secretary and such covered entity to reduce wildfire risks associated with such infestations. (b) Technical assistance Upon request of a covered entity party to an agreement entered into under subsection (a), the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service shall provide to such covered entity technical assistance requested with respect to the monitoring and management of mountain pine beetle infestations, including with respect to— (1) detection; (2) spread dynamics; and (3) mitigation strategies. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered entity The term covered entity means each of the following: (A) The chief executive officer of a State. (B) The chief executive officer of a political subdivision of a State. (2) State The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, each territory or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe.