To amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out emergency watershed protection measures on National Forest System land, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · February 7, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
This bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service to undertake emergency watershed protection measures on National Forest System land following natural disasters or other emergencies that damage forests and threaten downstream water resources or communities. The legislation allows the Forest Service to partner with state and local governments, Native American tribes, and water districts to carry out these protective measures, with the federal government covering all costs and waiving any local matching fund requirements. Sponsors who enter into agreements with the Forest Service must complete emergency work within two years of the triggering disaster and may continue monitoring and maintenance for up to three years afterward, with the federal government required to make final payments within 30 days of project completion. The bill protects sponsors from liability for emergency actions undertaken in good faith, except in cases of willful negligence or reckless conduct. By streamlining the approval process and treating these actions as emergency responses, the legislation aims to help forests recover faster and protect downstream water quality and public safety after natural disasters.
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