Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/1639

 117 STAT. 1620

Deadline.

VerDate 11-MAY-2000

10:15 Aug 27, 2004

PUBLIC LAW 108–136—NOV. 24, 2003

government. In conducting the review, the Director shall specifically consider— (1) any adverse impact caused by the restrictions contained in section 1535(a)(4) of title 31, United States Code, or caused by the interpretation of such restrictions, on the ability of the Forest Service and other Federal agencies to procure such firefighting services; and (2) whether the authorities under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), including section 403(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b), are being properly utilized to facilitate an expeditious Department of Defense response to State requests under, and consistent with, such Act for firefighting services. (b) DETERMINATION REQUIRED.—On the basis of the review, the Director shall make a determination regarding whether existing authorities are being used in a manner consistent with using the available capabilities of Department of Defense assets to fight wildfires in the most expeditious and efficacious way to minimize the risk to public safety. (c) EXPEDITED ECONOMY ACT REVIEW PROCESS.—If the Director determines under subsection (b) that existing authorities are adequate for the deployment of Department of Defense assets to fight wildfires, the Director shall develop and implement, subject to subsection (f), such modifications to the process for conducting the cost comparison required by section 1535(a)(4) of title 31, United States Code, as the Director considers appropriate to further expedite the procurement of such firefighting services. (d) DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF REVISED POLICIES.—If the Director determines under subsection (b) that the existing authorities or their use is inadequate or can be improved, the Director shall develop and implement, subject to subsection (f), such regulations, policies, and interagency procedures as may be necessary to improve the ability of the Department of Defense to respond to a request by a Federal agency or State government to assist in fighting wildfires on Federal lands or non-Federal lands under section 1535(a) of title 31, United States Code, or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), or both. (e) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall transmit to Congress a report— (1) containing the results of the review conducted under subsection (a) and the determination made under subsection (b); and (2) based on such determination, describing the modifications proposed to be made to existing authorities under subsection (c) or (d), including whether there is a need for legislative changes to further improve the procedures for using Department of Defense assets to fight wildfires. (f) DELAYED IMPLEMENTATION.—The modifications described in the report prepared under subsection (e) to be made to existing authorities under subsection (c) or (d) shall not take effect until the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the report is transmitted to Congress.

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