S. 449

119 S449 IS: Expediting Forest Restoration and Recovery Act of 2025
 U.S. Senate
 2025-02-06
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 EN
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 II  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. 449  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   February 6 (legislative day, February 5), 2025   Mr. Thune  (for himself and  Mr. Risch ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry    A BILL
To amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to expedite hazardous fuel or insect and disease risk reduction projects on certain National Forest System land, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Expediting Forest Restoration and Recovery Act of 2025  .
2.
Application by Forest Service of authorities to expedite environmental analyses in carrying out hazardous fuel and insect and disease risk reduction projects
Section 104 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6514 ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(i)
Application by Forest Service of authorities To expedite environmental analyses in carrying out hazardous fuel and insect and disease risk reduction projects
(1)
Definitions
In this subsection:
(A)
Insect and disease treatment area
The term  insect and disease treatment area  means an area that—
(i)
is designated by the Secretary as an insect and disease treatment area under this title; or
(ii)
is designated as at-risk or a hazard on the most recent National Insect and Disease Risk Map published by the Forest Service.
(B)
Secretary
The term  Secretary  has the meaning given the term in section 101(14)(A).
(2)
Use of authorities
In carrying out a hazardous fuel or insect and disease risk reduction project authorized under this Act in an insect and disease treatment area, the Secretary shall—
(A)
apply the categorical exclusion established by section 603 if the project is carried out in an insect and disease treatment area—
(i)
designated as suitable for timber production within the applicable forest plan; or
(ii)
where timber harvest activities are not prohibited;
(B)
conduct applicable environmental assessments and environmental impact statements in accordance with this section if the project is carried out in—
(i)
an insect and disease treatment area—
(I)
outside of an area described in subparagraph (A); or
(II)
where other significant resource concerns exist, as determined exclusively by the Secretary; or
(ii)
an insect and disease treatment area equivalent to not less than a Hydrologic Unit code 5 watershed, as defined by the United States Geological Survey; and
(C)
notwithstanding subsection (d), in the case of any other hazardous fuel or insect and disease risk reduction project, in the environmental assessment or environmental impact statement prepared under subsection (b), study, develop, and describe—
(i)
the proposed agency action; and
(ii)
the alternative of no action.
(3)
Priority for reducing risks of insect infestation and wildfire
Except where established as a mandatory standard that constrains project and activity decisionmaking in a resource management plan (as defined in section 101(13)(A)) in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, in the case of an insect and disease treatment area, the Secretary shall prioritize reducing the risks of insect and disease infestation and wildfire over other planning objectives.
(4)
Inclusion of Fire Regime Group IV
Notwithstanding section 603(c)(2)(B), the Secretary shall apply the categorical exclusion described in paragraph (2)(A) to areas in Fire Regime Group IV.
(5)
Excluded areas
This subsection shall not apply to—
(A)
a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System; or
(B)
an inventoried roadless area, except in the case of an activity that is permitted under—
(i)
the final rule of the Secretary entitled  Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation  (66 Fed. Reg. 3244 (January 12, 2001)); or
(ii)
a State-specific roadless area conservation rule.
(6)
Reports
The Secretary shall annually make publicly available data describing the acreage treated under hazardous fuel or insect and disease risk reduction projects in insect and disease treatment areas during the previous year.
 .
3.
Good neighbor authority
Section 8206(b)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 ( 16 U.S.C. 2113a(b)(2) ) is amended by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
(C)
Treatment of revenue
Funds received from the sale of timber by a Governor of a State under a good neighbor agreement shall be retained and used by the Governor—
(i)
to carry out authorized restoration services under that good neighbor agreement; and
(ii)
if funds remain after carrying out authorized restoration services under clause (i), to carry out authorized restoration services within the State under other good neighbor agreements.
 .