Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Fuels Management Funding

Information

The 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides multi-year funding for Department of the Interior (DOI) and U.S. Forest Services (USFS) fuels management programs and projects. Some of these fuel management programs are available to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal governments.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-supported fuels management programs include:

• $50 million to fund a DOI pilot program to assist local governments with purchasing “slip-on” tankers that can convert existing vehicle fleets to fire engines.
• $100 million of combined funding to DOI and USFS for workforce training for staff, non-Federal firefighters, and Native village fire crews to develop wildland firefighting and increase the pace and scale of vegetation treatments.
• $20 million of combined funding to DOI and USFS to conduct research through the Joint Fire Science Program.
• $500 million of combined funding to DOI and USFS for mechanical thinning and pre-commercial timber harvest.
• $500 million of combined funding to DOI and USFS to plan and conduct prescribed fires.
• $500 million of combined funding to DOI and USFS to develop or improve fuelbreaks and other control locations to mitigate wildland fire.
• $200 million to contract or hire crews of laborers to remove flammable vegetation on federal land and use the material to produce biochar and other innovative wood products using local organizations that engage young adults, Native youth, and veterans in service projects, such as youth and conservation corps.
• $200 million of combined funding to DOI and USFS to conduct post-wildfire recovery activities (no later than 3 years after containment).