Appropriation Wildland Fire Management
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FY 2002 Budget Justification USDA Forest Service Appropriation Wildland Fire Management FY 2002 FY 2002 Changes Budget Line Appropriation FY 2000 FY 2001 Uncontrollable Program President’s from Items Title Final Enacted Costs Changes Budget FY 2001 Preparedness Title II 408,768 611,143 15,528 -4,053 622,618 11,475 Total 408,768 611,143 15,528 -4,053 622,618 11,475 Fire Title II 208,888 226,140 7,657 423,934 657,731 431,591 Operations1 Title IV 617,912 -617,912 -617,912 Total 208,888 844,052 7,657 -193,978 657,731 -186,321 FY 2000 [274,147] Liquidation of Deficit Emergency Title II 240,000 425,063 -425,063 -425,063 Contingency Total 240,000 425,063 -425,063 -425,063 Land Title II 300 between the Total 300 Lakes NRA Total -- Title II 857,956 1,262,346 23,185 -5,182 1,280,349 18,003 Wildland Title IV 617,912 -617,912 -617,912 Fire Total 857,956 1,880,258 23,185 -623,094 1,280,349 -599,909 Management 1. FY 2002 Fire Operations funding includes funds to be transferred to various Forest Service BLI’s to accomplish the goals and objectives of the National Fire Plan (see the Fire Operations BLI). The transfer funds will complement non-wildland fire management funds being spent by the Forest Service to also accomplish the goals and objectives of the National Fire Plan. Appropriation Language For necessary expenses for forest fire presuppression activities on National Forest System lands, for emergency fire suppression on or adjacent to such lands or other lands under fire protection agreement, and for emergency rehabilitation of burned-over National Forest System lands and water, $1,280,349,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That such funds, including unobligated balances under this heading, are available for repayment of advances from other appropriations accounts previously transferred for such purposes: Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, up to $4,000,000 of funds appropriated under this appropriation may be used for Fire Science Research in support of the Joint Fire Science Program: Provided further, That all authorities for the use of funds, including the use of contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, available to execute the Forest and Rangeland Research appropriation, are also available in the utilization of these funds for Fire Science Research. In addition, to liquidate obligations previously incurred, $274,147,000. Funds provided shall be available for emergency rehabilitation and restoration, hazard reduction activities in the urban-wildland interface, support to federal emergency response and wildfire suppression activities of the Forest Service. Of the funds provided, $3,668,000 is for emergency rehabilitation, $20,376,000 is for capital improvement and maintenance of fire facilities, $16,265,000 is for research activities and to make competitive research grants pursuant to the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act, as amended (16 Wildland Fire Management 7-1 FY 2002 Budget Justification USDA Forest Service U.S.C. 1641 et seq.), $50,383,000 is for state fire assistance, $8,262,000 is for volunteer fire assistance, $11,974,000 is for forest health activities on state, private and federal lands, and $12,472,000 is for economic action programs. Amounts in this paragraph may be transferred to the “State and Private Forestry”, “National Forest System”, “Forest and Rangeland Research”, and “Capital Improvement and Maintenance” accounts to fund state fire assistance, volunteer fire assistance, and forest health management, vegetation and watershed management, heritage site rehabilitation, wildlife and fish habitat management, trails and facilities management and restoration: Provided, That notice of transfers of any amounts in excess of those authorized in this title, shall be transmitted to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations in compliance with reprogramming procedures contained in House Report No. 105-163: Provided further, That the costs of implementing any cooperative agreement between the Federal government and any non-Federal entity may be shared, as mutually agreed on by the affected parties: Provided further, That in entering into such grants or cooperative agreements, the Secretary may consider the enhancement of local and small business employment opportunities for rural communities, and that in entering into procurement contracts under this section on a best value basis, the Secretary may take into account the ability of an entity to enhance local and small business employment opportunities in rural communities, and that the Secretary may award procurement contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements under this section to entities that include local non-profit entities, Youth Conservation Corps, or related partnerships with State, local or non-profit youth groups or small or disadvantaged businesses: Provided further, That: (1) In expending the funds provided with respect to this Act for hazardous fuels reduction, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture may conduct fuel reduction treatments on Federal lands using all contracting and hiring authorities available to the Secretaries applicable to hazardous fuel reduction activities under the wildland fire management accounts. Notwithstanding Federal government procurement and contracting laws, the Secretaries may conduct fuel reduction treatments on Federal lands using grants and cooperative agreements. Notwithstanding Federal government procurement and contracting laws, in order to provide employment and training opportunities to people in rural communities, the Secretaries may award contracts, including contracts for monitoring activities, to (A) local private, non-profit or cooperative entities; (B) Youth Conservation Corps crews or related partnerships, with State, local and non-profit youth groups; (C) small or micro-businesses; or (D) other entities that will hire or train a significant percentage of local people to complete such contracts. The authorities described above relating to contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements are available until all funds provided in this title for hazardous fuels reduction activities in the urban-wildland interface are obligated. (2)(A) The Secretary of Agriculture may transfer or reimburse funds to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior, or the National Marine Fisheries Service or the Department of Commerce, for the costs or carrying out their responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (15 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) to consult and conference as required by section 7 of such Act in connection with wildland fire management activities in fiscal years 2001 and 2002. (B) Only those funds appropriated for fiscal years 2001 and 2002 to Forest Service (USDA) for wildland fire management are available to the Secretary of Agriculture for such transfer or reimbursement. (C) The amount of the transfer or reimbursement shall be as mutually agreed by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Interior or Secretary of Commerce, as applicable, or their designees: Provided, That the amount shall in no case exceed the actual costs of consultation Wildland Fire Management 7-2 FY 2002 Budget Justification USDA Forest Service and conferencing in connection with wildland fire management activities on National Forest System lands. (Department of Interior and Related Agencies appropriations Act, 2001.) Program Description The Wildland Fire Management program protects life, property, and natural resources on the 192 million acres of National Forest System (NFS) lands. An additional 20 million acres of adjacent State and private lands are also protected through fee or reciprocal protection agreements. The Wildland Fire Management program is guided by the principles and policies of the 1995 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and Program Review. However, the Forest Service is currently in the process of updating its policies to incorporate the recommendations in the Review and Update of the 1995 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy of January 2001, the Cohesive Strategy, and the recommendations of the National Fire Plan. The ten principles fundamental to the success of wildland fire management are: 1. Firefighter and public safety is the first priority in every fire management activity. 2. The role of wildland fire as an essential ecological process and natural change agent will be incorporated into the land and resource planning process. 3. Fire management programs, plans, and activities support land and resource management plans and their implementation. 4. Sound risk management is a foundation for all fire management activities. 5. Fire management programs are economically viable, based upon values to be protected, costs, and land and resource management objectives. 6. The organization needs of Fire Management are derived from the economic analysis of past fire occurrence and the workload necessary to meet local protection needs. Firefighting Production Capability is an index, which shows the relationship between preparedness and funding. 7. Fire management plans and activities are based upon the best available science. 8. Fire management plans and activities incorporate public health and environmental quality considerations. 9. Federal, State, Tribal, and local interagency coordination and cooperation are essential. 10. Standardization of policies and procedures among Federal agencies is an ongoing objective. The Wildland Fire Management appropriation includes the Preparedness