Safety standards for wildland firefighters

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered permissible exposure limits The term covered permissible exposure limits means— (A) the permissible smoke exposure limit established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; and (B) the permissible occupational smoke exposure limit established by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. (3) Secretary concerned The term Secretary concerned means— (A) the Secretary, with respect to wildland firefighters under the direction of the Secretary; and (B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to wildland firefighters under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior. (4) Wildland firefighter The term wildland firefighter means any person who participates in wildland firefighting activities under the direction of the Secretary or the Secretary of the Interior, including under a contract with the Secretary or the Secretary of the Interior. (b) Safety standards (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2)— (A) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, the Secretary of the Interior, and other appropriate Federal agencies, shall develop a strategy to make commercially available appropriate respiratory personal protective equipment for wildland firefighters and supporting staff in settings in which smoke exposure surpasses covered permissible exposure limits; and (B) the Secretary, in consultation with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, shall determine appropriate respiratory personal protective equipment for wildland firefighters and supporting staff in settings in which smoke exposure surpasses covered permissible exposure limits. (2) Review The Secretary shall— (A) in consultation with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, convene a task force assigned to develop an interim standard for smoke exposure that will review and update as necessary such standards relating to personal protective equipment and other safety standards for wildland firefighters and supporting staff, including the respiratory personal protective equipment determined under paragraph (1)(B), with the goal of developing an appropriate permissible exposure limit or occupational exposure limit for wildfire smoke for wildland firefighters and supporting staff participating in settings described in paragraph (1)(A); and (B) incorporate into the standards described in subparagraph (A), by reference, the most recent edition of standard NFPA 1984, entitled Standard on Respirators for Wildland Fire-Fighting and Wildland Urban Interface Operations (and any subsequent editions), as necessary, for the safety and personal protection of wildland firefighters and supporting staff, subject to the limit described in subsection (a)(1)(A).