I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2562 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 15, 2011 Mr. Gosar (for himself, Mr. Flake, and Mr. Pearce) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to take immediate action to recover ecologically and economically from a catastrophic wildfire in the States of Arizona and New Mexico, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Wallow Fire Recovery and Monitoring Act.

2.

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to take certain actions— (1)to rehabilitate and restore the Wallow Fire Area; (2)to recover material that is fire-damaged, but still merchantable, from the Wallow Fire Area before the material loses economic value; (3)to create defensible space around communities to effectively and safely fight future fires in the vicinity of the Wallow Fire Area; (4)to monitor the environmental and economic effects of the removal of fire-damaged trees from the Wallow Fire Area; and (5)to provide a mechanism to offset the costs of forest restoration in the Wallow Fire Area.

3.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Burned area emergency response

The term burned area emergency response means the process used by the Secretary to plan and implement emergency stabilization actions on Federal land in response to an immediate post-fire condition— (A)to minimize threats to life or property; or (B)to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources resulting from the effects of the catastrophic event. (2)

Community Protection Management Area

The term Community Protection Management Area means— (A)the wildland-urban interface in a community wildfire protection plan; (B)human development areas having special significance, including critical communication sites, high voltage transmission lines, developed recreation sites, and other structures that, if destroyed by fire, would result in hardship to communities; and (C)the fuels adjacent to areas described in subparagraph (B). (3)

Community wildfire protection plan

The term community wildfire protection plan has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511). (4)

Hazard tree and commercial timber evaluation

The term hazard tree and commercial timber evaluation means an evaluation of the hazard trees and fire-damaged, dead, and dying timber resources on the National Forest System land in the Wallow Fire Area conducted in accordance with section 4. (5)

Indian tribe

The term Indian tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b). (6)

National Forest System

The term National Forest System has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)). (7)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture. (8)

Timber removal project

The term timber removal project means a timber removal project for the Wallow Fire Area identified under a hazard tree and commercial timber evaluation. (9)

Wallow Fire

The term Wallow Fire means the fire that originated in the Bear Wallow Wilderness on May 29, 2011. (10)

Wallow Fire Area

The term Wallow Fire Area means the approximately 538,000-acre fire perimeter in the States of Arizona and New Mexico, as depicted on the map entitled Wallow Fire Az-ASF-110152 Progression Map as of June 27, 2011 at 2249 hours.

4.

hazard tree and commercial timber evaluation

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall conduct a hazard tree and commercial timber evaluation that identifies timber resources appropriate for removal within the Wallow Fire Area not later than the date that is the earlier of— (1)the date that is 30 days after the completion of the burned area emergency response for the Wallow Fire Area; or (2)the date that is 45 days after the date of containment of the Wallow Fire. (b)

Report required

In conducting a hazard tree and commercial timber evaluation under subsection (a), the Secretary shall prepare a report that includes— (1)a description of— (A)the forest conditions in the burned areas of the Wallow Fire Area; and (B)the short- and long-term risks the conditions pose to forest users, communities, private property, and remaining resources; (2)a map of areas for potential hazard tree removal, areas for potential fire-damaged commercial tree removal, and areas for potential elimination from harvest consideration, including a delineation of the Community Protection Management Area for the Wallow Fire Area; (3)a map of the burn intensity within the Wallow Fire Area; (4)a preliminary determination of— (A)the anticipated receipts to be derived from the hazard and fire-damaged commercial timber identified for removal in the Wallow Fire Area; (B)the estimated costs to the Secretary associated with the removal of the timber; and (C)to the maximum extent practicable, receipts likely to be lost if action is not taken in a timely manner; (5)a description of 1 or more proposals for timber removal projects providing for the removal of hazard trees and fire-damaged, dead, and dying timber resources in the Wallow Fire Area; and (6)a description of the desired outcomes of rehabilitation and tree removal in burned portions of the Wallow Fire Area. (c)

Excluded areas

In identifying areas for tree removal under subsection (a), the Secretary shall exclude high fire-severity burned areas on steep slopes, slopes with an incline greater than 40 percent, riparian areas, and fragile erosive sites, unless tree removal in those areas is necessary to address public health and safety concerns. (d)

Public involvement

The Secretary shall facilitate the meaningful involvement of State and local officials, Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, and other interested persons during the preparation of the hazard tree and commercial timber evaluation conducted under this section. (e)

Deadline for completion

Not later than 45 days after the date on which the Secretary commences the hazard tree and commercial timber evaluation, the Secretary shall complete the hazard tree and commercial timber evaluation.

5.

Timber removal projects

(a)

Timber removal project requirements

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall limit the removal of trees under a timber removal project under this Act to hazard trees and trees that are already down, dead, or severely root-sprung, such that mortality is highly probable. (2)

Considerations

In selecting tree removal techniques for a timber removal project under this Act, the Secretary shall take into account the degree of ground disturbances, soil types, soil saturation, worker safety, threatened and endangered species, aquatic systems, and other ecological values associated with the site of the timber removal project. (3)

Monitoring requirements

The Secretary shall use an effectiveness monitoring framework to assess the ecological and economic effects of tree removal projects carried out under this Act with respect to accomplishing desired outcomes identified in the hazard tree and commercial timber evaluation. (4)

Limitation

Nothing in this Act authorizes new permanent road construction for timber removal. (5)

Congressional intent

It is the intent of Congress that all timber removal projects carried out under this Act be completed by the date that is not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. (b)

Environmental compliance

(1)

In general

Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the Secretary shall comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and other applicable laws in planning and conducting timber removal projects. (2)

NEPA requirements

(A)

In general

In the case of a timber removal project to be conducted in a Community Protection Management Area under this Act, the Secretary shall prepare an environmental assessment for the proposed agency action under section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)). (B)

Alternatives

Nothing in this subsection requires the Secretary to study, develop, or describe any alternative to the proposed agency action in the environmental assessment conducted under subparagraph (A). (C)

Public participation

The Secretary shall provide an opportunity for public participation during the preparation of the environmental assessment under subparagraph (A), in accordance with existing protocols. (3)

Administrative and judicial review

Timber removal projects carried out under this Act are subject to the special administrative process and judicial review process under sections 105 and 106 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6515, 6516). (4)

Use of receipts

Amounts collected by the Secretary from a timber removal project carried out under this Act shall be available for expenditure by the Secretary for forest restoration treatments in the Wallow Fire Area.