The bill would create assistance for responding to pine beetle outbreaks on nonindustrial private forest land. Eligible forest owners could receive payments covering up to 85% of response costs. Timber service businesses could receive payments covering up to 50% of eligible itemized costs. The bill would also allow emergency loans to forest owners and permit supplemental grants to state, Tribal, and local governments. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
A forest owner or timber service business would need to apply through a local Farm Service Agency office. The land must have had tree cover before the outbreak and be in a county designated as a primary natural disaster area during the prior 12 months. Forest pest surveys must confirm pine beetles on or near the land. Eligible response measures include thinning or harvesting trees, prescribed burns, debris removal, insecticide treatment, and buffer areas.
The bill does not specify a total amount of funding. Payments to forest owners could cover no more than 85% of response costs; payments to timber service businesses could cover no more than 50% of eligible itemized costs. Emergency loans would be at least 75% of the estimated response costs. An owner who later receives a cost-share payment may choose to use it to repay the remaining loan principal.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.