NWTF Assists Forest Service with the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Program
EDGEFIELD, S.C — The National Wild Turkey Federation and the USDA Forest Service are pleased to announce the launch of the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance program. This initiative, authorized and funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to enhance the pace and scale of the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy by facilitating the transportation of materials removed to reduce hazardous fuels to locations where they can be utilized effectively.
The Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance program is designed to address the challenge of transporting forest products, which is often a significant barrier to effective hazardous fuel treatment due to high costs and the distance from national forests to forest product facilities. By incentivizing the removal of these materials, the program seeks to increase the implementation of wildfire prevention strategies.
Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities, such as manufacturing facilities, wood-energy and logging contractors, non-profit entities, U.S. state and local governments, tribal entities and educational institutions. Proposals must demonstrate how they will reduce hazardous fuels and explain why transportation is a limiting factor. Materials must be removed from National Forest System lands and/or demonstrate benefit to National Forest System lands.
The Forest Service anticipates awarding up to $25 million through this Notice of Funding Opportunity. There is a 50 percent match requirement for the IRA HFTA program, meaning a proposal requesting $100,000 in federal funding must include at least $50,000 in matching funds from non-federal sources, totaling $150,000 in project expenses.
The NWTF will collaborate with the Forest Service to provide outreach, host webinars and workshops, assist applicants and review and evaluate applications. A series of informational webinars will be hosted by the NWTF throughout August to guide applicants through the process. To register for the webinars, visit the links below:
Detailed information about the application process, selection criteria and eligible expenses can be found in the Forest Service Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Program Notice of Funding Opportunity and Frequently Asked Questions.