Emergency Mountain Pine Beetle Response and Coordination Act

The bill establishes the Mountain Pine Beetle Response Program, a competitive grant initiative managed by the Secretary of Agriculture through the Forest Service. This program aims to fund projects on National Forest System land that address mountain pine beetle outbreaks causing significant tree mortality. Eligible projects include removing and processing beetle-killed trees, forest thinning, reforestation, ecological restoration, and watershed protection measures. Grants are available to various sponsors, including state and local governments, Indian Tribes, water management districts, and electric utilities. Priority for funding is given to projects designed to protect municipal water supplies and critical infrastructure , reduce wildfire risk in the wildland-urban interface , and those in areas with high tree mortality or low natural ecological regeneration. Projects aligning with State forest action plans or watershed strategies also receive preference. Beyond grants, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into cooperative agreements with states, Indian Tribes, and local governments. These agreements support activities like coordinated monitoring, joint project implementation, and processing beetle-killed trees to mitigate infestations on both federal and non-federal lands. Furthermore, the bill mandates technical assistance from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for monitoring and management, and from the Under Secretary for Rural Development to enhance workforce capacity, wood processing infrastructure, and market development for beetle-killed timber byproducts.