43 USC 1748b-1 - Wildfire technology modernization

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 02, 2024

§ 1748b–1.

Wildfire technology modernization

(a)

Purpose

The purpose of this section is to promote the use of the best available technology to enhance the effective and cost-efficient response to wildfires—

(1)

to meet applicable protection objectives; and

(2)

to increase the safety of—

(A)

firefighters; and

(B)

the public.

(b)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Secretaries

The term “Secretaries” means—

(A)

the Secretary of Agriculture; and

(B)

the Secretary.

(2)

Secretary concerned

The term “Secretary concerned” means—

(A)

the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to activities under the Department of Agriculture; and

(B)

the Secretary, with respect to activities under the Department of the Interior.

(c)

Unmanned aircraft systems

(1)

Definitions

(2)

Establishment of program

(3)

Expanding use of unmanned aircraft systems on wildfires

(d)

Location systems for wildland firefighters

(1)

In general

(2)

Requirements

The system shall—

(A)

use the most practical and effective technology available to the Secretaries to remotely track the location of an active resource, such as a Global Positioning System;

(B)

depict the location of each fire resource on the applicable maps developed under subsection (c)(3);

(C)

operate continuously during the period for which any firefighting personnel are assigned to the applicable Federal wildland fire; and

(D)

be subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary concerned determines necessary for the effective implementation of the system.

(3)

Operation

The Secretary concerned shall—

(A)

before commencing operation of the system—

(i)

conduct not fewer than 2 pilot projects relating to the operation, management, and effectiveness of the system; and

(ii)

review the results of those pilot projects;

(B)

conduct training, and maintain a culture, such that an employee, officer, or contractor shall not rely on the system for safety; and

(C)

establish procedures for the collection, storage, and transfer of data collected under this subsection to ensure—

(i)

data security; and

(ii)

the privacy of wildland fire personnel.

(e)

Wildland fire decision support

(1)

Protocol

To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretaries shall ensure that wildland fire management activities conducted by the Secretaries, or conducted jointly by the Secretaries and State wildland firefighting agencies, achieve compliance with applicable incident management objectives in a manner that—

(A)

minimizes firefighter exposure to the lowest level necessary; and

(B)

reduces overall costs of wildfire incidents.

(2)

Wildfire decision support system

(A)

In general

(B)

Components

The system established or expanded under subparagraph (A) shall be able to alert the Secretaries if—

(i)

unusual costs are incurred;

(ii)

an action to be carried out would likely—

(I)

endanger the safety of a firefighter; or

(II)

be ineffective in meeting an applicable suppression or protection goal; or

(iii)

a decision regarding the management of a wildfire deviates from—

(I)

an applicable protocol established by the Secretaries, including the requirement under paragraph (1); or

(II)

an applicable spatial fire management plan or fire management plan of the Secretary concerned.

(f)

Smoke projections from active wildland fires

The Secretaries shall establish a program, to be known as the “Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program”, under which the Secretary concerned—

(1)

to the maximum extent practicable, shall assign 1 or more air resource advisors to a type 1 incident management team managing a Federal wildland fire; and

(2)

may assign 1 or more air resource advisors to a type 2 incident management team managing a wildland fire.

(g)

Omitted

(h)

Rapid Response Erosion Database

(1)

In general

(2)

Open-source Database

(A)

Availability

The Secretaries shall make the Database (including the original source code)—

(i)

web-based; and

(ii)

available without charge.

(B)

Components

To the maximum extent practicable, the Database shall provide for—

(i)

the automatic incorporation of spatial data relating to vegetation, soils, and elevation into an applicable map created by the Secretary concerned that depicts the changes in land-cover and soil properties caused by a wildland fire; and

(ii)

the generation of a composite map that can be used by the Secretary concerned to model the effectiveness of treatments in the burned area to prevent flooding, erosion, and landslides under a range of weather scenarios.

(3)

Use

(4)

Coordination

(i)

Predicting where wildfires will start

(1)

In general

(2)

Cooperation; components

(3)

Use in forecasts

(4)

Coordination

(j)

Termination of authority

(k)

Savings clause

Nothing in this section—

(1)

requires the Secretary concerned to establish a new program, system, or database to replace an existing program, system, or database that meets the objectives of this section; or

(2)

precludes the Secretary concerned from using existing or future technology that—

(A)

is more efficient, safer, or better meets the needs of firefighters, other personnel, or the public; and

(B)

meets the objectives of this section.

(Pub. L. 116–9, title I, § 1114, Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 615.)

cite as: 43 USC 1748b-1