PUBLIC LAW 108–148—DEC. 3, 2003
117 STAT. 1895
(f) LARGE TREE RETENTION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Except in old growth stands where the management direction is consistent with subsection (e)(2), the Secretary shall carry out a covered project in a manner that— (A) focuses largely on small diameter trees, thinning, strategic fuel breaks, and prescribed fire to modify fire behavior, as measured by the projected reduction of uncharacteristically severe wildfire effects for the forest type (such as adverse soil impacts, tree mortality or other impacts); and (B) maximizes the retention of large trees, as appropriate for the forest type, to the extent that the trees promote fire-resilient stands. (2) WILDFIRE RISK.—Nothing in this subsection prevents achievement of the purposes described in section 2(1). (g) MONITORING AND ASSESSING FOREST AND RANGELAND HEALTH.— (1) IN GENERAL.—For each Forest Service administrative region and each Bureau of Land Management State Office, the Secretary shall— (A) monitor the results of a representative sample of the projects authorized under this title for each management unit; and (B) not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and each 5 years thereafter, issue a report that includes— (i) an evaluation of the progress towards project goals; and (ii) recommendations for modifications to the projects and management treatments. (2) CONSISTENCY OF PROJECTS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.— An authorized hazardous fuel reduction project approved following the issuance of a monitoring report shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be consistent with any applicable recommendations in the report. (3) SIMILAR VEGETATION TYPES.—The results of a monitoring report shall be made available for use (if appropriate) in an authorized hazardous fuels reduction project conducted in a similar vegetation type on land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary. (4) MONITORING AND ASSESSMENTS.—Monitoring and assessment shall include a description of the changes in condition class, using the Fire Regime Condition Class Guidebook or successor guidance, specifically comparing end results to— (A) pretreatment conditions; (B) historical fire regimes; and (C) any applicable watershed or landscape goals or objectives in the resource management plan or other relevant direction. (5) MULTIPARTY MONITORING.— (A) IN GENERAL.—In an area where significant interest is expressed in multiparty monitoring, the Secretary shall establish a multiparty monitoring, evaluation, and accountability process in order to assess the positive or negative ecological and social effects of authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects and projects conducted pursuant to section 404.
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