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US HR1437

US HR1437
Coquille Forest Fairness Act


summary

Introduced
03/18/2015
In Committee
04/07/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017

Introduced Session

114th Congress

Bill Summary

Coquille Forest Fairness Act Amends the Coquille Restoration Act to require the Department of the Interior to manage the Coquille Forest in accordance with the laws pertaining to the management of Indian trust land. (Currently, Interior is also required to manage the Forest under applicable state and federal forestry and environmental protection laws, and subject to critical habitat designations under the Endangered Species Act and the standards and guidelines of federal forest plans on adjacent or nearby federal lands.) Continues to apply: (1) federal law relating to the export of unprocessed logs harvested from federal land to any unprocessed logs that are harvested from the Forest, and (2) competitive bidding requirements to sales of timber from the Forest. Removes a provision: (1) giving the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon jurisdiction over certain actions concerning the placement of lands in Coos County and Curry County, Oregon, into trust for the Coquille Tribe and the management of the Coquille Forest; and (2) limiting available remedies to equitable relief, unless otherwise provided for by law.

AI Summary

This bill, the Coquille Forest Fairness Act, amends the Coquille Restoration Act to change how the Coquille Forest is managed. Specifically, it requires the Department of the Interior to manage the Coquille Forest according to the laws that govern Indian trust land, which is land held by the federal government in trust for Native American tribes. This is a shift from the current requirement to manage it under state and federal forestry and environmental laws, as well as specific endangered species and federal forest plan standards. However, the bill retains two important existing provisions: federal laws restricting the export of unprocessed logs harvested from the forest will continue to apply, and timber sales from the forest will still be subject to competitive bidding. Additionally, the bill removes a provision that gave a specific federal court jurisdiction over certain legal actions related to the Coquille Tribe's land and forest management, and it also removes limitations on the types of legal remedies available in such cases.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs. (on 04/07/2015)

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