[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8682 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8682
To codify the categorical exclusion proposed in the National
Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures for the Bureau of Land
Management related to salvage harvesting published on April 6, 2026,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 7, 2026
Mr. Downing introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To codify the categorical exclusion proposed in the National
Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures for the Bureau of Land
Management related to salvage harvesting published on April 6, 2026,
and for other purposes.
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 ``Accelerating Forest Management
Act''.
SEC. 2. CODIFICATION OF CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.
(a) In General.--Salvage harvesting activities described in
subsection (b) are a category of actions hereby 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 (42 U.S.C. 4332).
(b) Salvage Harvesting Activities Designated for Categorical
Exclusions.--
(1) In general.--The salvage harvesting activities
designated under this section for categorical exclusion are--
(A) covered actions with respect to dead or dying
trees resulting from fire, insects, disease, drought,
or other disturbances within treatment areas--
(i) not to exceed 1,000 acres where the
disturbance affects 3,000 acres of Bureau-
managed lands or less; and
(ii) not to exceed the lesser of 5,000
acres or 1/3 of the disturbance area where the
disturbance exceeds 3,000 acres of Bureau-
managed lands; and
(B) carried out in conformance with applicable land
use planning decisions.
(2) Limitations.--In addition to the covered actions under
paragraph (1), salvage harvesting activities to which the
categorical exclusion applies under this section--
(A) may include construction of up to 1 mile of new
permanent road to facilitate covered actions, provided
that all segments conform to applicable land use
planning decisions with route-specific designations
disclosed where travel management planning has been
completed;
(B) may include maintenance and renovation of
existing roads as needed;
(C) may include construction of temporary roads not
to exceed a ratio of 2.25 miles per 1,000 acres of
harvest area as needed, provided that the temporary
roads--
(i) are not part of the permanent
transportation system of the Bureau;
(ii) are designed to standards appropriate
for their intended use (safety, erosion
control, sedimentation prevention, and resource
protection);
(iii) are not needed for long-term resource
management; and
(iv) are decommissioned and stabilized
after use to minimize erosion and protect water
quality; and
(D) require the disclosure of design features, in
documentation of finding that an action is excluded
pursuant to the use of this categorical exclusion, that
address the following resource considerations
consistent with applicable land use plan decisions, or,
where no plan requirements apply, specify how the
following resource considerations are addressed:
(i) Snag and downed wood--amount to be
created or retained.
(ii) Erosion control--specifications or
measures (e.g., water bars, dispersed slash).
(iii) Soil compaction--criteria for
avoidance, minimization, or remediation.
(iv) Logging systems--types and scope of
constraints (e.g., seasonal, location, extent,
etc.).
(v) Seasonal operations--purpose and extent
of operating restrictions.
(vi) Invasive species--measures to prevent
or limit spread.
(vii) Riparian areas--buffer widths and/or
operating restrictions.
(viii) Prescribed fire--operating
constraints for underburning or pile burning.
(ix) Temporary roads--decommissioning
standards.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Bureau.--The term ``Bureau'' means the Bureau of Land
Management.
(2) Covered actions.--The term ``covered actions'' means
the one or more of the following actions:
(A) Cutting, yarding, and removal of dead or dying
trees.
(B) Cutting, yarding, and removal of live trees
needed for operations, landings, skid trails, or road
clearing.
(C) Chipping/grinding or removal of residual slash.
(D) Jackpot burning, pile burning, and
underburning.
(E) Seeding or planting necessary to accelerate
native species re-establishment.
(3) Dying tree.--The term ``dying tree'' means a standing
tree severely damaged by disturbance (such as fire, wind,
insects, disease, drought) and, in the judgment of a forestry
professional or someone technically trained for the work, is
likely to die within two years.
(4) Permanent road.--The term ``permanent road'' means a
road constructed or reconstructed for use, as part of the
permanent transportation system of the Bureau.
(5) Temporary road.--The term ``temporary road'' means a
road authorized by contract, permit, lease, written
authorization, or emergency operation, not added to the
permanent system, and decommissioned after use.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF FOREST ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND RECOVERY FUND.
Title I of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111-88) is amended in the
text under the heading ``FOREST ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND RECOVERY FUND'' by
striking ``2020'' each place it appears and inserting ``2033''.
<all>