23 U.S.C. § 329: Eligibility for control of noxious weeds and aquatic noxious weeds and establishment of native species

Establishment of plants selected by State and local transportation authorities to perform one or more of the following functions: abatement of stormwater runoff, stabilization of soil, provision of habitat, forage, and migratory way stations for Monarch butterflies, other native pollinators, and honey bees, and aesthetic enhancement. Management of plants which impair or impede the establishment, maintenance, or safe use of a transportation system. right-of-way surveys to determine management requirements to control Federal or State noxious weeds as defined in the Plant Protection Act ( 7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) or State law, and brush or tree species, whether native or nonnative, that may be considered by State or local transportation authorities to be a threat with respect to the safety or maintenance of transportation systems; establishment of plants, whether native or nonnative with a preference for native to the maximum extent possible, for the purposes defined in subsection (a)(1); control or elimination of plants as defined in subsection (a)(2); elimination of plants to create fuel breaks for the prevention and control of wildfires; and training. Subject to paragraph (2), an activity described in subsection (a) may be carried out concurrently with, in advance of, or following the construction of a project funded under this title. An activity described in subsection (a) may be carried out in advance of construction of a project only if the activity is carried out in accordance with all applicable requirements of Federal law (including regulations) and State transportation planning processes. The term ‘invasive plant’ means a nonnative plant, tree, grass, or weed species, including, at a minimum, cheatgrass, Ventenata dubia, medusahead, bulbous bluegrass, Japanese brome, rattail fescue, Japanese honeysuckle, phragmites, autumn olive, Bradford pear, wild parsnip, sericea lespedeza, spotted knapweed, garlic mustard, and palmer amaranth. The term ‘program’ means the grant program established under subsection (b). The term ‘transportation corridor’ means a road, highway, railroad, or other surface transportation route. The Secretary [of Transportation] shall carry out a program to provide grants to States to eliminate or control existing invasive plants or prevent introduction of or encroachment by new invasive plants along and in areas adjacent to transportation corridor rights-of-way. To be eligible to receive a grant under the program, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Subject to this subsection, a State that receives a grant under the program may use the grant funds to carry out activities to eliminate or control existing invasive plants or prevent introduction of or encroachment by new invasive plants along and in areas adjacent to transportation corridor rights-of-way. In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that utilize revegetation with native plants and wildflowers, including those that are pollinator-friendly. mowing is identified as the best means of treatment according to best management practices; or mowing is used in conjunction with another treatment. Not more than 10 percent of the amounts provided to a State under the program may be used for the purchase of equipment. Not more than 5 percent of the amounts provided to a State under the program may be used for the administrative and other indirect costs (such as full time employee salaries, rent, insurance, subscriptions, utilities, and office supplies) of carrying out eligible activities. units of local government, political subdivisions of the State, and Tribal authorities that are carrying out eligible activities in the areas to be treated; local regulatory authorities, in the case of a treatment along or adjacent to a railroad right-of-way; and with respect to the most effective roadside control methods, State and Federal land management agencies and any relevant Tribal authorities. Not later than 1 year after the date on which a State receives a grant under the program, and annually thereafter, that State shall provide to the Secretary an annual report on the treatments carried out using funds from the grant. in the case of a project that utilizes revegetation with native plants and wildflowers, including those that are pollinator-friendly, 75 percent; and in the case of any other project not described in subparagraph (A), 50 percent. A State may include amounts expended by the State or a unit of local government in the State to address current invasive plant populations and prevent future infestation along or in areas adjacent to transportation corridor rights-of-way in calculating the non-Federal share required under the program. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.”