Agency: Department of Agriculture-Forest Service
Description:
To complete hazardous fuels reduction projects, defined as activities to protect structures and communities from wildfire, on National Forest System land within the Wildland Urban Interface.
Bill Section:
23001(a)(1)
New or Existing:
Existing
Potential Cost:
$1,800,000,000
Timeline:
FY22-31
Implementation Status/Rulemaking:
According to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) FY2024 Budget Justification, USFS estimated $589.7 million of the IRA’s $1.8 billion in funding was available at the start of FY2024, implying that approximately $1.2 billion of these funds were obligated or spent as of October 1, 2023.
On February 20, 2023, USFS announced that $100 million in Inflation Reduction Act hazardous fuels funding will be allocated through a competitive process under the Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program (CWRRP). There are 24 states that meet the criteria for this program: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. Source
TCS Notes:
“Hazardous fuels reduction project” means an activity, including the use of prescribed fire, to protect structures and communities from wildfire that is carried out on National Forest Service lands. Focus for projects is within the wildland-urban interface, as defined in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003.
Other TCS Resources:
Clearing the Smoke: A Closer Look at Federal Spending and Programs on Wildfire