16 U.S.C. § 2206 — Emergency forest restoration program

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Emergency measures The term “emergency measures” means those measures that— (A) are necessary to address damage caused by a natural disaster to natural resources on nonindustrial private forest land, and the damage, if not treated— (i) would impair or endanger the natural resources on the land; and (ii) would materially affect future use of the land; and (B) would restore forest health and forest-related resources on the land. (2) Natural disaster The term “natural disaster” includes wildfires (including a wildfire that is not caused naturally, if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes, and a wildfire that is caused by the Federal Government), hurricanes or excessive winds, drought, ice storms or blizzards, floods, or other resource-impacting events, as determined by the Secretary. (3) Nonindustrial private forest land The term “nonindustrial private forest land” means rural land, as determined by the Secretary, that— (A) has existing tree cover (or had tree cover immediately before the natural disaster and is suitable for growing trees); and (B) is owned by any nonindustrial private individual, group, association, corporation, or other private legal entity, that has definitive decision-making authority over the land. (b) Availability of assistance The Secretary can make payments to an owner of nonindustrial private forest land who carries out emergency measures to restore the land after the land is damaged by a natural disaster. (c) Eligibility To be eligible to receive a payment under subsection (b), an owner must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the nonindustrial private forest land on which the emergency measures are carried out had tree cover immediately before the natural disaster. (d) Cost share requirement Payments made under subsection (b) must not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the emergency measures carried out by an owner of nonindustrial private forest land. (e) Advance payments (1) In general The Secretary must give an owner of nonindustrial private forest land the option of receiving, before the owner carries out emergency measures under this section, not more than 75 percent of the cost of the emergency measures, as determined by the Secretary. (2) Return of funds If the funds provided under paragraph (1) are not spent by the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date on which the owner of nonindustrial private forest land receives those funds, the funds is returned within a reasonable timeframe, as determined by the Secretary. (f) Authorization of appropriations There can be appropriated to the Secretary such funds as can be necessary to carry out this section. Amounts so appropriated remains available until spent.