US Code

Public Law 119-102 (07/12/2026)

16 U.S.C. § 2206

Emergency forest restoration program

Section text and notes

(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 may 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) shall 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 shall 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 expended 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 shall be returned within a reasonable timeframe, as determined by the Secretary.

(f)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such funds as may be necessary to carry out this section. Amounts so appropriated shall remain available until expended.

Pub. L. 95–334, title IV, § 407Pub. L. 110–234, title VIII, § 8203(a)122 Stat. 1290 Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a)122 Stat. 1664 Pub. L. 115–334, title II, § 2403(a)(2)(B)132 Stat. 4571 Pub. L. 119–102, § 3140 Stat. 986 (, as added , , , and , title VIII, § 8203(a), , , 2051; amended , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246 and enacted identical sections. was repealed by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 119–102, § 3(1)2026—Subsec. (a)(2). , substituted “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),” for “wildfires,”.

Pub. L. 119–102, § 3(2)Subsecs. (e), (f). , (3), added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).

Pub. L. 115–3342018—Subsec. (a)(4). struck out par. (4). Text read as follows: “The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Agriculture.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246section 8701 of Title 7Enactment of this section and repeal of by effective , the date of enactment of , see , set out as a note under , Agriculture.

Regulations

Pub. L. 110–234, title VIII, § 8203(b)122 Stat. 1291 Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a)122 Stat. 1664

16 U.S.C. 2206“Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [], the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue regulations to carry out section 407 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 [], as added by subsection (a).”
, , , and , title VIII, § 8203(b), , , 2052, provided that:

Pub. L. 110–234Pub. L. 110–246Pub. L. 110–234section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246section 8701 of Title 7[ and enacted identical provisions. was repealed by , set out as a note under , Agriculture.]