118 S2269 IS: Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2023 U.S. Senate 2023-07-12 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2269IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 12, 2023Mrs. Feinstein (for herself and Mr. Padilla) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and ForestryA BILLTo authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to permit removal of trees around electrical lines on National Forest System land without conducting a timber sale, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2023.

2.

Permits and agreements with electrical utilities

(a)

In general

In any special use permit or easement on National Forest System land provided to an electrical utility, the Secretary of Agriculture may provide permission to cut and remove trees or other vegetation from within the vicinity of distribution lines or transmission lines without requiring a separate timber sale, if that cutting and removal is consistent with—(1)the applicable land and resource management plan; and (2)other applicable environmental laws (including regulations).(b)

Use of proceeds

A special use permit or easement that includes permission for cutting and removal described in subsection (a) shall include a requirement that, if the applicable electrical utility sells any portion of the material removed under the permit or easement, the electrical utility shall provide to the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, any proceeds received from the sale, less any transportation costs incurred in the sale.(c)

Effect

Nothing in subsection (b) shall require the sale of any material removed under a permit or easement that includes permission for cutting and removal described in subsection (a).