<enum>I</enum><header>HAZARDOUS FUEL REDUCTION ACTIVITIES</header><section id="H78D164EA67944980A784860D924C59E4"> <enum>101.</enum> <header>Categorical exclusion for high-priority hazard tree activities</header> <subsection id="H3F91E80287FF4C8CB28F13A7503D53AB"> <enum>(a)</enum> <header>Categorical exclusion</header> <paragraph id="H8154BE97C3344BEEBCC3CFB0EA6E0183"> <enum>(1)</enum> <header>In general</header> <text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall develop a categorical exclusion (as defined in section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) for high-priority hazard tree activities.</text> </paragraph> <paragraph id="H430A56D0247E4951A378785F8193ED65"> <enum>(2)</enum> <header>Administration</header> <text>In developing and administering the categorical exclusion under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—</text> <subparagraph id="HAA382C5D1DA940F0B6F73A9D5940B324"> <enum>(A)</enum> <text>comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text> </subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF4021C236ECD4C5BA236350E0BCCD050"> <enum>(B)</enum> <text>apply the extraordinary circumstances procedures under section 220.6 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), in determining whether to use the categorical exclusion.</text> </subparagraph> </paragraph> </subsection> <subsection id="HC4A1BA88106C41068E5C0C0496213E2D"> <enum>(b)</enum> <header>Project size limitations</header> <text>A project to carry out high-priority hazard tree activities to which a categorical exclusion under subsection (a) is applied may not exceed 3,000 acres.</text> </subsection> <subsection id="H39DEE6F6FDB84FF9BB6005BCF29BA8A6"> <enum>(c)</enum> <header>Definitions</header> <text>In this section:</text> <paragraph id="HF43CE0CCA3A7430F816F46484968C331"> <enum>(1)</enum> <header>High-priority hazard tree</header> <text>The term <term>high-priority hazard tree</term> means a standing tree that—</text> <subparagraph id="HF8AD1F3EDC1D4E2DA909D9062C9F146D"> <enum>(A)</enum> <text>presents a visible hazard to people or property due to conditions such as deterioration of, or damage to, the root system, trunk, stem, or limbs of the tree, or due to the direction or lean of the tree, as determined by the Secretary;</text> </subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H0465A1C952744186A6EBEC473E2FE3C8"> <enum>(B)</enum> <text>is determined by the Secretary to be highly likely to fail and, if it failed, would be highly likely to cause injury to people or damage to property; and</text> </subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3247CCCB6D264A518B3F1FE40A5CE0FE"> <enum>(C)</enum> <text>is within 300 feet of a National Forest System road with a maintenance level of 3, 4, or 5, a National Forest System trail, or a developed recreation site on National Forest System lands that is operated and maintained by the Secretary.</text> </subparagraph> </paragraph> <paragraph id="HFF91F637CA8E4A719A968B58A741983C"> <enum>(2)</enum> <header>High-priority hazard tree activities</header> <text>The term <term>high-priority hazard tree activities</term>—</text> <subparagraph id="HA9AE4F562FBE4A94B186BDACE2D22DF1"> <enum>(A)</enum> <text>means forest management activities that mitigate the risks associated with high-priority hazard trees, including pruning, felling, and disposal of those trees; and</text> </subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H06710751E8904EFFB9394ADB32FC7C3B"> <enum>(B)</enum> <text>does not include any activity—</text> <clause id="H1AFD3EA052F243959C3A55EC908BB05C"> <enum>(i)</enum> <text>conducted in a wilderness area or wilderness study area;</text> </clause> <clause id="HD9F90D25D29D458EA45038813E7BF350"> <enum>(ii)</enum> <text>for the construction of a permanent road or permanent trail;</text> </clause> <clause id="H9A77B9DA9A9F41B2B14889E27CB51086"> <enum>(iii)</enum> <text>conducted on Federal land on which, by Act of Congress or Presidential proclamation, the removal of vegetation is restricted or prohibited;</text> </clause> <clause id="H5C24240509724A428098ED36FCFFC434"> <enum>(iv)</enum> <text>that would be inconsistent with the applicable land and resource management plan; or</text> </clause> <clause id="HBAAB3AA3D8964734A06C3A45DEF3B883"> <enum>(v)</enum> <text>conducted in an inventoried roadless area.</text> </clause> </subparagraph> </paragraph> </subsection> </section><section id="HC45D9E5C465945F4902D5194A95C20BB" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section" commented="no"><enum>102.</enum><header>Utilizing timber sales on National Forest System land for extreme risk reduction</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 14 of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/472a">16 U.S.C. 472a</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H44E8956347CE4C80AAB66A653806ED7A" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (d) by striking <quote>$10,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$50,000</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF414C805BF9246E28D76B970AFD7E818" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H61FD5FD6F3404A728B68D9C86BFC9262" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="H123EC8EECACE4995BCA055407A069EC1" commented="no"><enum>(j)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the event of extreme risks to a unit of National Forest System land, including catastrophic wildfire, insect and disease outbreak, wind, hurricane, flood, drought, or to avoid adverse effects from such extreme events, the Secretary may, without an appraisal and under rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary, dispose of (by sale or otherwise) portions of trees or forest products located on such unit of National Forest System lands. </text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="H09216EAAE98541189BC202ED46EF15FC" section-type="subsequent-section" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>103.</enum><header>Utilizing grazing for wildfire risk reduction</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, in coordination with holders of permits to graze livestock on lands subject to the jurisdiction of the Forest Service, shall develop a strategy to increase opportunities to utilize livestock grazing as wildfire risk reduction strategy, including—</text><paragraph id="H69C38DD44D5B4610958D2A4BE2AD76D9"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">completion of reviews required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) so to allow permitted grazing on vacant grazing allotments during instances of drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters that disrupt grazing on allotments already permitted;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3F77955E2781426FA30EE0D547302B4F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>use of targeted grazing;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6F1536BC44924A588CDAD78A5D504868"><enum>(3)</enum><text>increase use of temporary permits to promote targeted fuels reduction and reduction of invasive annual grasses;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2A9EFE11830947788760896D96BCE3EF"><enum>(4)</enum><text>increased use of grazing as a postfire recovery and restoration strategy, where appropriate; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H1FB7BF6F2743434C803CD90CF7F1C6DD"><enum>(5)</enum><text>use all applicable authorities under the law.</text></paragraph></section><section id="HF26CDBA54ED6499AB5E3A4D4B6A00106"><enum>104.</enum><header>Amendments to the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 to improve wildfire mitigation</header><subsection id="HC42E80EE64DC452DB7AC8360B4324B12"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Promoting cross-Boundary wildfire mitigation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 103(e)(5) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6513">16 U.S.C. 6513(e)(5)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>2023</quote> and inserting <quote>2030</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="H1B5B2E3C23C54F1CA9F0F5DAF4023AF3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Wildfire resilience project size</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 605(c)(1) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591d">16 U.S.C. 6591d(c)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>3000 acres</quote> and inserting <quote>10,000 acres</quote>.</text></subsection></section><section id="HBED1E392D890419F9487287670E931A6" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>105.</enum><header>Amendment to fuel breaks in forests and other wildland vegetation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 40806(d)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592b">16 U.S.C. 6592b(d)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>3,000 acres</quote> and inserting <quote>10,000 acres</quote>.</text></section>

119 HR 7578 IH: Targeted Operations to Remove Catastrophic Hazards Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-02-13 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.

Short title; table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Targeted Operations to Remove Catastrophic Hazards Act

or the

TORCH Act

.(b)

Table of contents

The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Title I—HAZARDOUS FUEL REDUCTION ACTIVITIES

Sec. 101. Categorical exclusion for high-priority hazard tree activities.

Sec. 102. Utilizing timber sales on National Forest System land for extreme risk reduction.

Sec. 103. Utilizing grazing for wildfire risk reduction.

Sec. 104. Amendments to the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 to improve wildfire mitigation.

Sec. 105. Amendment to fuel breaks in forests and other wildland vegetation.

Title II—GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY

Sec. 201. Modification of the treatment of certain revenue and payments under good neighbor agreements.

Title III—ELECTRICAL UTILITY LINES RIGHTS-OF-WAYS AND RELATED VEGETATION MANAGEMENT

Sec. 301. Vegetation management, facility inspection, and operation and maintenance relating to electric transmission and distribution facility rights-of-way.

Sec. 302. Categorical exclusion for electric utility lines rights-of-way.

Sec. 303. Permits and agreements with electrical utilities.

Title IV—REFORM OF CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS

Sec. 401. Nonapplicability of certain additional consultation requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Sec. 402. Amendment to categorical exclusion for collaborative restoration projects.

<enum>I</enum><header>HAZARDOUS FUEL REDUCTION ACTIVITIES</header><section id="H78D164EA67944980A784860D924C59E4"> <enum>101.</enum> <header>Categorical exclusion for high-priority hazard tree activities</header> <subsection id="H3F91E80287FF4C8CB28F13A7503D53AB"> <enum>(a)</enum> <header>Categorical exclusion</header> <paragraph id="H8154BE97C3344BEEBCC3CFB0EA6E0183"> <enum>(1)</enum> <header>In general</header> <text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall develop a categorical exclusion (as defined in section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) for high-priority hazard tree activities.</text> </paragraph> <paragraph id="H430A56D0247E4951A378785F8193ED65"> <enum>(2)</enum> <header>Administration</header> <text>In developing and administering the categorical exclusion under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—</text> <subparagraph id="HAA382C5D1DA940F0B6F73A9D5940B324"> <enum>(A)</enum> <text>comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text> </subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF4021C236ECD4C5BA236350E0BCCD050"> <enum>(B)</enum> <text>apply the extraordinary circumstances procedures under section 220.6 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), in determining whether to use the categorical exclusion.</text> </subparagraph> </paragraph> </subsection> <subsection id="HC4A1BA88106C41068E5C0C0496213E2D"> <enum>(b)</enum> <header>Project size limitations</header> <text>A project to carry out high-priority hazard tree activities to which a categorical exclusion under subsection (a) is applied may not exceed 3,000 acres.</text> </subsection> <subsection id="H39DEE6F6FDB84FF9BB6005BCF29BA8A6"> <enum>(c)</enum> <header>Definitions</header> <text>In this section:</text> <paragraph id="HF43CE0CCA3A7430F816F46484968C331"> <enum>(1)</enum> <header>High-priority hazard tree</header> <text>The term <term>high-priority hazard tree</term> means a standing tree that—</text> <subparagraph id="HF8AD1F3EDC1D4E2DA909D9062C9F146D"> <enum>(A)</enum> <text>presents a visible hazard to people or property due to conditions such as deterioration of, or damage to, the root system, trunk, stem, or limbs of the tree, or due to the direction or lean of the tree, as determined by the Secretary;</text> </subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H0465A1C952744186A6EBEC473E2FE3C8"> <enum>(B)</enum> <text>is determined by the Secretary to be highly likely to fail and, if it failed, would be highly likely to cause injury to people or damage to property; and</text> </subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3247CCCB6D264A518B3F1FE40A5CE0FE"> <enum>(C)</enum> <text>is within 300 feet of a National Forest System road with a maintenance level of 3, 4, or 5, a National Forest System trail, or a developed recreation site on National Forest System lands that is operated and maintained by the Secretary.</text> </subparagraph> </paragraph> <paragraph id="HFF91F637CA8E4A719A968B58A741983C"> <enum>(2)</enum> <header>High-priority hazard tree activities</header> <text>The term <term>high-priority hazard tree activities</term>—</text> <subparagraph id="HA9AE4F562FBE4A94B186BDACE2D22DF1"> <enum>(A)</enum> <text>means forest management activities that mitigate the risks associated with high-priority hazard trees, including pruning, felling, and disposal of those trees; and</text> </subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H06710751E8904EFFB9394ADB32FC7C3B"> <enum>(B)</enum> <text>does not include any activity—</text> <clause id="H1AFD3EA052F243959C3A55EC908BB05C"> <enum>(i)</enum> <text>conducted in a wilderness area or wilderness study area;</text> </clause> <clause id="HD9F90D25D29D458EA45038813E7BF350"> <enum>(ii)</enum> <text>for the construction of a permanent road or permanent trail;</text> </clause> <clause id="H9A77B9DA9A9F41B2B14889E27CB51086"> <enum>(iii)</enum> <text>conducted on Federal land on which, by Act of Congress or Presidential proclamation, the removal of vegetation is restricted or prohibited;</text> </clause> <clause id="H5C24240509724A428098ED36FCFFC434"> <enum>(iv)</enum> <text>that would be inconsistent with the applicable land and resource management plan; or</text> </clause> <clause id="HBAAB3AA3D8964734A06C3A45DEF3B883"> <enum>(v)</enum> <text>conducted in an inventoried roadless area.</text> </clause> </subparagraph> </paragraph> </subsection> </section><section id="HC45D9E5C465945F4902D5194A95C20BB" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section" commented="no"><enum>102.</enum><header>Utilizing timber sales on National Forest System land for extreme risk reduction</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 14 of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/472a">16 U.S.C. 472a</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H44E8956347CE4C80AAB66A653806ED7A" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (d) by striking <quote>$10,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$50,000</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF414C805BF9246E28D76B970AFD7E818" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H61FD5FD6F3404A728B68D9C86BFC9262" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="H123EC8EECACE4995BCA055407A069EC1" commented="no"><enum>(j)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the event of extreme risks to a unit of National Forest System land, including catastrophic wildfire, insect and disease outbreak, wind, hurricane, flood, drought, or to avoid adverse effects from such extreme events, the Secretary may, without an appraisal and under rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary, dispose of (by sale or otherwise) portions of trees or forest products located on such unit of National Forest System lands. </text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="H09216EAAE98541189BC202ED46EF15FC" section-type="subsequent-section" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>103.</enum><header>Utilizing grazing for wildfire risk reduction</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, in coordination with holders of permits to graze livestock on lands subject to the jurisdiction of the Forest Service, shall develop a strategy to increase opportunities to utilize livestock grazing as wildfire risk reduction strategy, including—</text><paragraph id="H69C38DD44D5B4610958D2A4BE2AD76D9"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">completion of reviews required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) so to allow permitted grazing on vacant grazing allotments during instances of drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters that disrupt grazing on allotments already permitted;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3F77955E2781426FA30EE0D547302B4F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>use of targeted grazing;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6F1536BC44924A588CDAD78A5D504868"><enum>(3)</enum><text>increase use of temporary permits to promote targeted fuels reduction and reduction of invasive annual grasses;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2A9EFE11830947788760896D96BCE3EF"><enum>(4)</enum><text>increased use of grazing as a postfire recovery and restoration strategy, where appropriate; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H1FB7BF6F2743434C803CD90CF7F1C6DD"><enum>(5)</enum><text>use all applicable authorities under the law.</text></paragraph></section><section id="HF26CDBA54ED6499AB5E3A4D4B6A00106"><enum>104.</enum><header>Amendments to the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 to improve wildfire mitigation</header><subsection id="HC42E80EE64DC452DB7AC8360B4324B12"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Promoting cross-Boundary wildfire mitigation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 103(e)(5) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6513">16 U.S.C. 6513(e)(5)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>2023</quote> and inserting <quote>2030</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="H1B5B2E3C23C54F1CA9F0F5DAF4023AF3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Wildfire resilience project size</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 605(c)(1) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591d">16 U.S.C. 6591d(c)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>3000 acres</quote> and inserting <quote>10,000 acres</quote>.</text></subsection></section><section id="HBED1E392D890419F9487287670E931A6" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>105.</enum><header>Amendment to fuel breaks in forests and other wildland vegetation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 40806(d)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592b">16 U.S.C. 6592b(d)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>3,000 acres</quote> and inserting <quote>10,000 acres</quote>.</text></section><enum>II</enum><header>GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY</header><section section-type="subsequent-section" id="HD16644006CE5487699DE68B2B8374691"><enum>201.</enum><header>Modification of the treatment of certain revenue and payments under good neighbor agreements</header><subsection id="H36A21D9A66FE448AAF54E8F59B260012"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Good neighbor authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="HE2AE5F6E010745BCB4C393C1256F171F"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)(6), by striking <quote>or Indian tribe</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE0717574A4AE475386E8ABA7C4E697D0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph id="HD631DD65C32646B98B5D24E75D9EA5C3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting <quote>, Indian tribe,</quote> after <quote>Governor</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB616DBA5E73F43FE8853B4EDCA7C89F9"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)(C), by striking clause (i) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H648B54E62EBE4ED688ADF2A32A3243E8"><clause id="H6F762C820704434B9614BA207C0D2B7E"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Funds received from the sale of timber by a Governor, an Indian tribe, or a county under a good neighbor agreement shall be retained and used by the Governor, Indian tribe, or county, as applicable—</text><subclause id="HDBF6D1DC8E4B434EA581424F6CFE7DBE"><enum>(I)</enum><text>to carry out authorized restoration services under the good neighbor agreement; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H0162BE5FB8C5433496F46D99C55E4764"><enum>(II)</enum><text>if there are funds remaining after carrying out subclause (I), to carry out authorized restoration services under other good neighbor agreements.</text></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3DB74110A5114BBF9CD580321C0FAF79"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by inserting <quote>, Indian tribe,</quote> after <quote>Governor</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2916D62B09FE4B3698D742A2106B10FE"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (4).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC208174947F242E0B06CC8481A10F044"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><text>Section 8206(a) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="HAB328FCF57B24B5AA49DAA82D2348D29"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting <quote>, Indian tribe,</quote> after <quote>Governor</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H4FFD87CD117E445A94EEEF6D864C5AB8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (5), by inserting <quote>, Indian tribe,</quote> after <quote>Governor</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1B4AD5C8AEFD43EEAB0B14BA21BC5A8B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by this Act apply to any project initiated pursuant to a good neighbor agreement (as defined in section 8206(a) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a(a)</external-xref>)) entered into—</text><paragraph id="H9BEF70140D1C4F12BB5142AD413D4633"><enum>(1)</enum><text>on or after the date of enactment of this Act; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H883D745DA6AF44D299BBB6040131C48F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>before the date of enactment of this Act, if the project was initiated after the date of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/334">Public Law 115–334</external-xref>; 132 Stat. 4490).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>ELECTRICAL UTILITY LINES RIGHTS-OF-WAYS AND RELATED VEGETATION MANAGEMENT</header><section id="H90671771ECED4E0B83629A23103A4145"> <enum>301.</enum> <header>Vegetation management, facility inspection, and operation and maintenance relating to electric transmission and distribution facility rights-of-way</header> <subsection id="H3339BE98478C4457A51146CF1DB268AB"> <enum>(a)</enum> <header>Hazard trees within 50 feet of electric power line</header> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 512(a)(1)(B)(ii) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772(a)(1)(B)(ii)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>10</quote> and inserting <quote>50</quote>.</text> </subsection> <subsection id="HDDEF31AC1641453DA5EFD79DA69BC3DA"> <enum>(b)</enum> <header>Consultation with private landowners</header> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 512(c)(3)(E) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(3)(E)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H06397670DAF8431DB3EA18FFF6AA6CF9"> <enum>(1)</enum> <text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text> </paragraph> <paragraph id="H8E074B40D7594CB080F62569BA0A8CA4"> <enum>(2)</enum> <text>in clause (ii), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text> </paragraph> <paragraph id="H71ADA7FB721D40E19F32D00D292B545C"> <enum>(3)</enum> <text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0CB08AA2B8D148E9A8EB5A4945422B50" style="OLC"> <clause id="H41B62CDA20D746DA94BCE580E7C8E910"> <enum>(iii)</enum> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">consulting with private landowners with respect to any hazard trees identified for removal from land owned by such private landowners.</text> </clause> <after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block> </quoted-block> </paragraph> </subsection> <subsection id="HC146408D9AA94481BC4FFFDD5DD5802F"> <enum>(c)</enum> <header>Review and approval process</header> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clause (iv) of section 512(c)(4)(A) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(4)(A)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF49AF2DA00BD45BAA2AD81CBC64FE703" style="OLC"> <clause id="H6A91178A35B14961863AC7F7BC7A2982"> <enum>(iv)</enum> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensures that—</text> <subclause id="HB493F079DFC142CEAD6BEB56FBA6D807"> <enum>(I)</enum> <text>a plan submitted without a modification under clause (iii) shall be automatically approved 60 days after review; and</text> </subclause> <subclause id="H0E19FD4619ED47E0911A334ED68C554B"> <enum>(II)</enum> <text>a plan submitted with a modification under clause (iii) shall be automatically approved 67 days after review.</text> </subclause> </clause> <after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block> </quoted-block> </subsection> </section><section id="HE5DB79BC60CB4C879E1B73CC861A0B94"><enum>302.</enum><header>Categorical exclusion for electric utility lines rights-of-way</header><subsection id="H919EE613BED0415CAB09657E8C4D8789"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Categorical exclusion established</header><text>Forest management activities described in subsection (b) are a category of activities designated as being categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4332">42 U.S.C. 4332</external-xref>).</text></subsection><subsection id="H7A632E6FACE54B3C897C66FEC510F5E0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Forest management activities designated for categorical exclusion</header><paragraph id="H51F2CC2297414179917F78DBA55EBE8E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in paragraph (2), the forest management activities designated as being categorically excluded under subsection (a) are—</text><subparagraph id="H4E0ADF050A3548FBB601792B37EDF71F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the development and approval of a vegetation management, facility inspection, and operation and maintenance plan submitted under section 512(c)(1) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(1)</external-xref>) by the Secretary concerned; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE8D29BBD2C72456E908E1B92EF3CB5DF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the implementation of routine activities conducted under the plan referred to in paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5E475F5CB0C148998CE62E3EC9A309C4" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exclusion of certain areas</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The forest management activities designated as being categorically excluded under subsection (a) do not include any forest management activity conducted—</text><subparagraph id="HDC43BAA3D56B43A6ABDA92E7E5A081FA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5E13B16CC7FF4E00A6DD526B8D3FEF4E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>on National Forest System lands on which, by Act of Congress, the removal of vegetation is restricted or prohibited.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB6819A9154A047839AB1E629F21900F5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Availability of categorical exclusion</header><text>On and after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned may use the categorical exclusion established under subsection (a) in accordance with this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="H1D07A3032F0243BAABBC3B531C0F7EC2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Extraordinary circumstances</header><text>Use of the categorical exclusion established under subsection (a) shall not be subject to the extraordinary circumstances procedures in section 220.6, title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, or section 1508.4, title 40, Code of Federal Regulations.</text></subsection><subsection id="H99FF6B95B5EE4CD9A4E6292E843A930E"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Permanent roads</header><paragraph id="HD147046EE0F34AEEA4E3873E2075E0C0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Prohibition on establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The categorical exclusion established under subsection (a) may not be used for the establishment of a permanent road or any forest management activity that necessitates the establishment of a permanent road.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H87A084EFA3D14D8A883C7812BB25FCF2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Existing roads</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary concerned may carry out maintenance and repairs on an existing permanent road, if necessary, to carry out a forest management activity under the categorical exclusion established under subsection (a).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD567BC06CC0D4C7FBCE902131B976D90"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Temporary roads</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary concerned shall decommission any temporary road constructed for a forest management activity carried out under the categorical exclusion established under subsection (a) not later than the date that is 3 years after completion of the forest management activity.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4215DABF858B48898EF6A0AC2DEC1E92"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Applicable laws</header><text>A forest management activity carried out under the categorical exclusion established under subsection (a) shall not be subject to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536</external-xref>), section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, or any other applicable law.</text></subsection><subsection id="HE838101417C542BC8DEDDF91F089C652"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Secretary concerned defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>Secretary concerned</term> means—</text><paragraph id="H432E71E56E65401BA7FE129868084243"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System lands; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6327D511A7C841EA9870F2823C0FF168"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public lands.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HAAAD978C0FEF4E19883D8FA2DAFD2BFA" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>303.</enum><header>Permits and agreements with electrical utilities</header><subsection id="HEDF809C65C1442D6A910C7E4DEC1A451"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In any special use permit or easement on National Forest System lands provided to an electric utility company (as defined in section 1262 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/16451">42 U.S.C. 16451</external-xref>)), 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, including hazardous vegetation that increases fire risk, without requiring a separate timber sale if that cutting and removal is consistent with the applicable land management plan.</text></subsection><subsection id="H8C16F67E47F9450891E22B8D9A5F188D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of proceeds</header><text>A special use permit or easement that includes permission for the cutting and removal of trees or other vegetation 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, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, any proceeds received from the sale, less any transportation costs incurred in the sale.</text></subsection><subsection id="H8F0838E1D2234DAF9145AA3D57A68912"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the sale of any material removed under a special use permit or easement that includes permission for the cutting and removal of trees or other vegetation described in subsection (a).</text></subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>REFORM OF CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS</header><section id="HFCE4E17B3E274BEB84F71DBC4E5846D6"><enum>401.</enum><header>Nonapplicability of certain additional consultation requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973</header><subsection id="HB4950BC05912461D942D270E90EA9403"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Forest Service plans</header><text>Section 6(d)(2) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1604">16 U.S.C. 1604(d)(2)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block id="H93DED4372DA24371B1935346DF85FBA8" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H2FACFCED51674317A0B2D9E81EB0D5D2"> <enum>(2)</enum> <header>No additional consultation required under certain circumstances</header> <text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not be required to reinitiate consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)</external-xref>) or section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), on a land management plan approved, amended, or revised under this section when—</text> <subparagraph id="HE6C884782A5C46EB8F6E6FF183D2E8BA"> <enum>(A)</enum> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a new species is listed, or critical habitat is designated, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>); or</text> </subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H4655262C2CA54DF88EE711B1E37A01C9"> <enum>(B)</enum> <text>new information reveals effects of the land management plan that may affect a species listed, or critical habitat designated, under that Act in a manner or to an extent not previously considered.</text> </subparagraph> </paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HE852FAC5E49840948BDF81D0DA2D03C8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Bureau of Land Management plans</header><text>Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1712">43 U.S.C. 1712</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="H17B9F81BA216410A9526E21B1524D7A4" style="OLC"><subsection id="H7D72C46E56B54FF9B9A4F0C2C9D2CB09"><enum>(g)</enum><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary is not required to reinitiate consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)</external-xref>) or section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), on a land use plan approved, amended, or revised under this section when—</text><paragraph id="H1C334225BF0146F5899A8B248601C15F"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a new species is listed, or critical habitat is designated, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>); or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFAA9F7C79E0E4C699DD158C44ED98BF0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>new information reveals effects of the land use plan that may affect a species listed, or critical habitat designated, under that Act in a manner or to an extent not previously considered.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="HD2B21449BB6444DB9B6D6BC325ED4F28" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>402.</enum><header>Amendment to categorical exclusion for collaborative restoration projects</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 603(c)(1) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591b">16 U.S.C. 6591b(c)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>3000 acres</quote> and inserting <quote>10,000 acres</quote>.</text></section>