16 U.S.C. § 6501
Purposes
The purposes of this chapter are—(1) to reduce wildfire risk to communities, municipal water supplies, and other at-risk Federal land through a collaborative process of planning, prioritizing, and implementing hazardous fuel reduction projects;(2) to authorize grant programs to improve the commercial value of forest biomass (that otherwise contributes to the risk of catastrophic fire or insect or disease infestation) for producing electric energy, useful heat, transportation fuel, and petroleum-based product substitutes, and for other commercial purposes;(3) to enhance efforts to protect watersheds and address threats to forest and rangeland health, including catastrophic wildfire, across the landscape;(4) to promote systematic gathering of information to address the impact of insect and disease infestations and other damaging agents on forest and rangeland health;(5) to improve the capacity to detect insect and disease infestations at an early stage, particularly with respect to hardwood forests; and(6) to protect, restore, and enhance forest ecosystem components—(A) to promote the recovery of threatened and endangered species;(B) to improve biological diversity; and(C) to enhance productivity and carbon sequestration.(Pub. L. 108–148, § 2, Dec. 3, 2003, 117 Stat. 1888.)Editorial NotesReferences in TextThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 108–148, Dec. 3, 2003, 117 Stat. 1887, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables.
Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesShort TitlePub. L. 108–148, § 1(a), Dec. 3, 2003, 117 Stat. 1887, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter and section 2103b of this title and amending sections 6601, 8606, and 8609 of Title 7, Agriculture] may be cited as the ‘Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003’.”
Wildfire Hazard Severity Mapping for CommunitiesPub. L. 115–141, div. O, title II, § 210, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1067, provided that:“(a)Map Required.—Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section [Mar. 23, 2018], the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—“(1) develop and publish a geospatial map appropriate for community-level use that depicts wildfire hazard severity to inform at-risk communities that are—“(A) adjacent to National Forest System lands; or“(B) affected by wildland fire, as determined by the Secretary; and“(2) disseminate the information under paragraph (1) in an appropriate, web-based format for use by such communities to—“(A) improve understanding of their risk profile;“(B) clarify thinking on the nature and effect of wildfire risks; and“(C) develop plans to manage and mitigate those risks.“(b)Purposes of Map.—The purposes of the map required under subsection (a) are as follows:“(1) To inform evaluations of wildfire risk.“(2) To prioritize fuels management needs.“(3) To depict the relative potential for wildfire that could be difficult for suppression resources to contain and that could cause ignitions to structures.“(c)Consultation.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture and Chief of the Forest Service shall consult with—“(1) the Secretary of the Interior;“(2) the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;“(3) other appropriate Federal agencies;“(4) States;“(5) relevant colleges, universities, and institutions of higher education with relevant expertise; and“(6) other entities, as appropriate.“(d)At-risk Community Defined.—The term ‘at-risk community’ has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).”
Executive DocumentsExecutive Order No. 14072Ex. Ord. No. 14072, Apr. 22, 2022, 87 F.R. 24851, which related to restoring and conserving the nation’s forests, stopping international deforestation, and nature-based solutions to tackle climate change and enhance resilience, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14154, § 4(a)(x), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8355.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
13
cases (
2 in the last 5 years), 2006–2025 · leading case:
Beard v. United States, 125 Fed. Cl. 148 (Fed. Cl. 2016).
Beard v. United States, 125 Fed. Cl. 148 (Fed. Cl. 2016).
· cites it 2× “” 16 U.S.C. § 6501 (1). Consistent with this stewardship role, and with its role in managing the supply of timber as set forth in § 528, the Forest Service has the authority to sell timber by contracting with private timber harvesting companies.”
Wildwest Inst. v. Bull, 547 F.3d 1162 (9th Cir. 2008).
“Additionally, the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (“HFRA”), 16 U.S.C. §§ 6501 et seq., directs the Forest Service to take action to “reduce wildfire risk” and “enhance efforts to protect watersheds and address threats to forest and rangeland health.”
Native Ecosystems Council v. Erickson, 330 F. Supp. 3d 1218 (D. Mont. 2018).
“2008) (quoting 16 U.S.C. § 6501 (1), (3) ). "Specifically, the Forest Service is required 'as soon as practicable' to implement an 'authorized hazardous fuel reduction project' on federal land where 'the existence of an epidemic of disease or insects, or the presence of such an…”
Wildwest Inst. v. Bull, 468 F. Supp. 2d 1234 (D. Mont. 2006).
· cites it 2× “, and the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (“HFRA”), 16 U.S.C. §§ 6501 et seq. Before the Court are the Parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment and Plaintiffs’ motions to supplement the administrative record.”
Wild Watershed v. Hurlocker, 961 F.3d 1119 (10th Cir. 2020).
“” 16 U.S.C. § 6501 (1). In 2014, Congress amended HFRA, establishing the statutory categorical exclusion at issue here—the Insect and Disease exclusion.”
Conservation Cong. v. United States Forest Serv., 235 F. Supp. 3d 1189 (E.D. Cal. 2017).
“16 U.S.C. § 6501 . An authorized hazardous fuel reduction project may be implemented under the HFRA on federal land if the land contains threatened or endangered species habitat where “natural fire regimes on that land are identified as being important for, or wildfire is…”
Decker v. United States Forest Serv., 780 F. Supp. 2d 1170 (D. Colo. 2011).
“” 16 U.S.C. §§ 6501 (1), 6512(a). The statute defines “authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects” as “the measures and methods described in the definition of ‘appropriate tools’ contained in the glossary of the Implementation Plan, on Federal land.”
Wildwest Inst. v. Bull, 472 F.3d 587 (9th Cir. 2006).
“I The Middle East Fork Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project (“MEF Project”) was developed under the authority of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (“HFRA”), 16 U.S.C. § 6501 et seq., which directs the Forest Service (“Service”) to implement fuel reduction projects “as soon as…”
Greater Hells Canyon Council v. Kris Stein (9th Cir. 2020).
“); and the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 (“HFRA”), 16 U.S.C. §§ 6501–6591e. The parties are familiar with the facts, so we need not repeat them here.”
Native Ecosystems Council v. Leanne Marten (9th Cir. 2020).
“The court held that the Service’s designation of certain Montana forest lands as “landscape-scale areas” under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA), 16 U.S.C. § 6501 et seq., and the Service’s approval of the Moose Creek Vegetation Project did not violate either HFRA or…”
All. for the Wild Rockies v. Higgins (D. Idaho 2021).
“2008) (quoting 16 U.S.C. § 6501 (1), (3)). “Specifically, the [USFS] is required ‘as soon as practicable’ to implement an ‘authorized hazardous fuel reduction project’ on federal land where ‘the existence of an epidemic of disease or insects, or the presence of such an epidemic…”
All. for the Wild Rockies v. United States Forest Serv. (D. Idaho 2025).
““Specifically, the [USFS] is required ‘as soon as practicable’ to implement an ‘authorized hazardous fuel reduction project’ on federal land where ‘the existence of an epidemic of disease or insects, or the presence of such an epidemic on immediately adjacent land and the…”
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