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.
This bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to work with state and local governments, Indian tribes, and water districts to carry out emergency watershed protection measures on National Forest System land following natural disasters or other damaging natural events. The legislation allows the federal government to provide full funding to these partners for projects that address flooding, soil erosion, and runoff while restoring forest health, without requiring matching funds from the local sponsors. Sponsors have up to two years to complete emergency protection work after a natural disaster, with an additional three years allowed for monitoring and maintenance if needed, and the federal government must process payments within 30 days of project completion. The bill protects sponsors from liability for damages resulting from these emergency projects unless they act with willful negligence or reckless conduct. This legislation streamlines the environmental review process by treating these watershed protection projects as emergency response actions, allowing faster implementation when natural disasters threaten water resources and downstream communities.
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