[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8230 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8230

To streamline the permitting process for communications infrastructure 
                    on National Forest System lands.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 2, 2024

Mr. Johnson of South Dakota (for himself and Mr. Bacon) introduced the 
    following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
   Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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 streamline the permitting process for communications infrastructure 
                    on National Forest System lands.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Facilitating Optimal and Rapid 
Expansion and Siting of Telecommunications Act'' or the ``FOREST Act''.

SEC. 2. EXEMPTION FOR PREVIOUSLY ANALYZED AREAS OF NATIONAL FOREST 
              SYSTEM LANDS.

    (a) In General.--The requirements under the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) or division A of subtitle 
54, United States Code, shall not apply to an application for a 
communications use authorization on National Forest System lands, 
including National Forest System lands on which authorized utilities, 
communications facilities, powerline facilities or roads have been 
installed, if--
            (1) the communications equipment is located in or on 
        existing infrastructure; or
            (2) the communications facility is located on previously 
        analyzed areas of National Forest System lands.
    (b) No Additional Consultation Required Under Certain 
Circumstances.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Secretary shall not be required to reinitiate consultation of the 
requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) or division A of subtitle 54, United States Code, 
for an application for a communications use authorization on previously 
analyzed areas of National Forest System lands if new information 
concerning a previously analyzed area of National Forest Service land 
becomes available.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Communications facility; communications use 
        authorization.--The terms ``communications facility'' and 
        ``communications use authorization'' have the meanings given 
        the terms, respectively, in section 8705 of the Agriculture 
        Improvement Act of 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1761a).
            (2) Previously analyzed areas of national forest system 
        lands.--The term ``previously analyzed areas of National Forest 
        System lands'' means any National Forest Service land with 
        respect to which the Secretary has--
                    (A) granted, issued, and executed a communications 
                use authorization; and
                    (B) conducted sufficient environmental or 
                historical reviews.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
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