Federal agencies would coordinate to protect giant sequoias

The Interior Secretary would enter into or expand a shared agreement to manage and conserve giant sequoias with the Agriculture Secretary, California, and the Tule River Indian Tribe. The agreement would cover giant sequoias on the listed California national forests, national parks, Bureau of Land Management land, and other participating lands. If California or the Tribe does not request participation within 90 days after enactment, the Interior Secretary would enter the agreement with the Agriculture Secretary. California or the Tribe could later join that agreement. The coalition would use the best available science, including Tribal ecological knowledge, in its assessment. The agreement would be required within 90 days after a request, or after 90 days following enactment if no request is received. The first assessment would be due within 6 months after enactment, with annual updates afterward.

Interior and Agriculture officials would carry out sequoia protection projects and develop a restoration strategy for damaged or threatened groves. Projects could include fuel reduction, tree removal, forest thinning, pest and disease work, reforestation, and rehabilitation on listed federal lands and consenting private land. Projects would still follow land-management plans and applicable laws, including rules for historic preservation and endangered species. Some projects up to 2,000 acres in groves or 3,000 acres on identified nearby lands could use a categorical exclusion from an environmental assessment or impact statement, subject to extraordinary-circumstances rules. The responsible officials would provide public notice of each protection project. The Secretaries would try, as far as practicable, to reduce hazardous fuels in at least three giant sequoia groves each year. The emergency determination would expire 7 years after enactment. The restoration strategy would be due within 6 months after enactment, and insect-monitoring strategies would be due within 1 year.

Federal officials and partner foundations would support sequoia restoration through grants, contracts, technology work, and a charitable emergency fund. Eligible grant applicants would include nonprofits, Tribal governments, local governments, schools, and private organizations. The fund would support covered federal lands and wildfire-affected sequoias. Grant priorities would include projects with the greatest expected effect, rural small businesses and Tribal entities, and job creation in rural areas. The emergency fund would contain gifts, bequests, and other donations rather than a stated federal appropriation. Funded projects would require approval by the appropriate National Park Service, Forest Service, or Bureau of Land Management official. At least 15 percent of fund-supported money would support Tribal sequoia management and conservation, including Tribal historic preservation officers. The foundations would begin annual reporting on the program and fund 1 year after enactment. The fund authority would end 7 years after enactment.