Bill > HR4664

This bill, the Forest Improvements through Research and Emergency Stewardship for Healthy Ecosystem Development and Sustainability Act (FIRESHEDS Act), amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to establish "emergency fireshed management areas." The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Allowing the Secretary of Agriculture or Interior, upon request from a state governor, to designate landscape-scale "fireshed management areas" that are among the top 10% of areas at risk of wildfires, and to jointly conduct assessments and projects with the state to reduce wildfire threats to public health, infrastructure, wildlife, and water resources within those areas. 2. Authorizing categorical exclusions from environmental review for fireshed management projects like fuel breaks, hazardous fuels reduction, and prescribed burning, while prohibiting such projects in designated wilderness areas, roadless areas (with some exceptions), and areas where timber harvesting is prohibited. 3. Expanding the "Good Neighbor Authority" to allow states to use revenue from timber sales under such agreements to fund additional restoration services, including fireshed management projects.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/4664/all-info