[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 15, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THUNE:
  S. 808. A bill to amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 
to require the Secretary of Agriculture to expedite hazardous fuel or 
insect and disease risk reduction projects on certain National Forest 
System land, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 808

       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 ``Expediting Forest 
     Restoration and Recovery Act of 2023''.

     SEC. 2. APPLICATION BY FOREST SERVICE OF AUTHORITIES TO 
                   EXPEDITE ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSES IN CARRYING OUT 
                   HAZARDOUS FUEL AND INSECT AND DISEASE RISK 
                   REDUCTION PROJECTS.

       Section 104 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 
     (16 U.S.C. 6514) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(i) Application by Forest Service of Authorities To 
     Expedite Environmental Analyses in Carrying Out Hazardous 
     Fuel and Insect and Disease Risk Reduction Projects.--
       ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       ``(A) Insect and disease treatment area.--The term `insect 
     and disease treatment area' means an area that--
       ``(i) is designated by the Secretary as an insect and 
     disease treatment area under this title; or
       ``(ii) is designated as at risk or a hazard on the most 
     recent National Insect and Disease Risk Map published by the 
     Forest Service.
       ``(B) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' has the meaning 
     given the term in section 101(14)(A).
       ``(2) Use of authorities.--In carrying out a hazardous fuel 
     or insect and disease risk reduction project in an insect and 
     disease treatment area authorized under this Act, the 
     Secretary shall--
       ``(A) apply the categorical exclusion established by 
     section 603 in the case of a hazardous fuel or insect and 
     disease risk reduction project carried out in an area--
       ``(i) designated as suitable for timber production within 
     the applicable forest plan; or
       ``(ii) where timber harvest activities are not prohibited;
       ``(B) conduct applicable environmental assessments and 
     environmental impact statements in accordance with this 
     section in the case of a hazardous fuel or insect and disease 
     risk reduction project--
       ``(i) carried out in an area--

       ``(I) outside of an area described in subparagraph (A); or
       ``(II) where other significant resource concerns exist, as 
     determined exclusively by the Secretary; or

       ``(ii) that is carried out in an area equivalent to not 
     less than a hydrologic unit code 5 watershed, as defined by 
     the United States Geological Survey; and
       ``(C) notwithstanding subsection (d), in the case of any 
     other hazardous fuel or insect and disease risk reduction 
     project, in the environmental assessment or environmental 
     impact statement prepared under subsection (b), study, 
     develop, and describe--
       ``(i) the proposed agency action; and
       ``(ii) the alternative of no action.
       ``(3) Priority for reducing risks of insect infestation and 
     wildfire.--Except where established as a mandatory standard 
     that constrains project and activity decision making in a 
     resource management plan (as defined in section 101(13)(A)) 
     in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, in the case 
     of an insect and disease treatment area, the Secretary shall 
     prioritize reducing the risks of insect and disease 
     infestation and wildfire over other planning objectives.
       ``(4) Inclusion of fire regime group iv.--Notwithstanding 
     section 603(c)(2)(B), the Secretary shall apply the 
     categorical exclusion described in paragraph (2)(A) to areas 
     in Fire Regime Group IV.
       ``(5) Excluded areas.--This subsection shall not apply to--
       ``(A) a component of the National Wilderness Preservation 
     System; or
       ``(B) an inventoried roadless area, except in the case of 
     an activity that is permitted under--
       ``(i) the final rule of the Secretary entitled `Special 
     Areas; Roadless Area Conservation' (66 Fed. Reg. 3244 
     (January 12, 2001)); or
       ``(ii) a State-specific roadless area conservation rule.
       ``(6) Reports.--The Secretary shall annually make publicly 
     available data describing the acreage treated under hazardous 
     fuel or insect and disease risk reduction projects in insect 
     and disease treatment areas during the previous year.''.

     SEC. 3. GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY.

       Section 8206(b)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 
     U.S.C. 2113a(b)(2)) is amended by striking subparagraph (C) 
     and inserting the following:
       ``(C) Treatment of revenue.--Funds received from the sale 
     of timber by a Governor of a State under a good neighbor 
     agreement shall be retained and used by the Governor--
       ``(i) to carry out authorized restoration services under 
     that good neighbor agreement; and
       ``(ii) if funds remain after carrying out authorized 
     restoration services under clause (i), to carry out 
     authorized restoration services within the State under other 
     good neighbor agreements.''.
                                 ______