Wildfire Coordination Act
The Wildfire Coordination Act would create a permanent Wildfire Science and Technology Advisory Board within the Department of the Interior. This Board is charged with coordinating and accelerating the use of wildfire research across the federal government, translating research into practical applications, prioritizing projects for operational use, and facilitating collaboration among researchers, federal agencies, and non-federal partners (including private-sector entities). It also aims to broaden the disciplinary scope of wildfire research to include public health, meteorology, and predictive modeling, and to improve the dissemination of research findings and best practices to stakeholders. The Board would include high-level federal agency leaders and up to 18 non-federal members from state/local/tribal governments, fire departments, private sector groups, researchers, and public health and scientific communities. It would have a rotating chair, staff support, and the ability to hire temporary personnel. The act authorizes $10 million in new appropriations and allows use of certain agency funds to support Board activities. A report to Congress is due two years after enactment detailing activities, progress, barriers, and future priorities. The Board is designed to be permanent and not subject to the usual sunset termination provisions.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and purpose: Creates a permanent Wildfire Science and Technology Advisory Board to coordinate wildfire research, translate findings into practical uses, prioritize projects for operations, and connect researchers with operational programs across the Federal Government.
- 2Duties and focus: Responsibilities include identifying pathways to translate research into practice, setting criteria to prioritize research for operationalization, facilitating transitions of research into operations, fostering public-private and interagency partnerships, and disseminating results via newsletters, online portals, webinars, and workshops.
- 3Membership: The Board includes major federal agency heads (Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, FEMA, NOAA, EPA, CDC, etc.) plus up to 18 non-federal members representing state/local/tribal governments, fire departments, private-sector entities, wildfire and ecological researchers, public health experts, meteorologists, predictive modelers, and other appropriate specialists.
- 4Governance and compensation: Non-federal members serve 2-year terms; they may be reappointed. Members serve without compensation but may receive travel and per diem. The Chair rotates among the federal members or can be designated by the Board.
- 5Staffing and procedures: The Board may hire staff and obtain temporary services; details and pay for staff are limited to certain Executive Schedule levels, with interagency detail allowed without reimbursement or loss of status.
- 6Reporting requirement: Within two years of enactment, the Board must report to specified congressional committees detailing activities, progress on operationalizing research, barriers, and recommendations for future priorities.
- 7Funding: Authorizes $10 million for the Board, available until expended; federal members may use agency funds not otherwise specified by law to support the Board’s work.
- 8Permanence of the Board: The Board is not subject to the typical termination rule under 5 U.S.C. 1013(a)(2), signaling a lasting or permanent advisory role rather than a sunset or temporary committee.