; or (ii) a land utilization project on land designated as a National Grassland and administered pursuant to sections 31, 32, and 33 of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1010 , 1011, 1012). (2) Passing wildfire The term passing wildfire means a wildfire that originates outside of a right-of-way. (3) Pilot program The term pilot program means the pilot program established by the Secretary under subsection (b). (4) Right-of-way The term right-of-way means a special use authorization issued by the Forest Service allowing the placement of utility infrastructure. (5) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture. (6) Utility infrastructure The term utility infrastructure means electric transmission lines, natural gas infrastructure, or related structures. (b) Establishment To encourage owners or operators of rights-of-way on National Forest System land to partner with the Forest Service to voluntarily conduct vegetation management projects on a proactive basis to better protect utility infrastructure from potential passing wildfires, the Secretary shall establish a limited, voluntary pilot program, in the manner described in this section, to conduct vegetation management projects on National Forest System land adjacent to or near those rights-of-way. (c) Eligible participants (1) In general A participant in the pilot program shall be the owner or operator of a right-of-way on National Forest System land. (2) Selection priority In selecting participants for the pilot program, the Secretary shall give priority to an owner or operator of a right-of-way that has worked with Forest Service fire scientists and used technologies, such as light detection and ranging surveys, to improve utility infrastructure protection prescriptions. (d) Vegetation management projects (1) In general A vegetation management project conducted under the pilot program shall involve only limited and selective vegetation management activities that— (A) shall create the least disturbance reasonably necessary to protect