summary
Introduced
08/02/2017
08/02/2017
In Committee
08/02/2017
08/02/2017
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2018
12/31/2018
Introduced Session
115th Congress
Bill Summary
Forest Management Improvement Act of 2017 This bill makes categorical exclusions, from requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to conduct environmental assessment and environmental impact statements, available to the Forest Service to conduct forest management activities on up to 10,000 acres of National Forest System land for each exclusion to: create early seral habitat forests; improve wildlife habitats; commercially thin forest stands on suited timberlands; and salvage trees that are dead and/or dying and were damaged by such events as wind, fire, or construction. For a forest management activity, the Forest Service: in an NEPA-prepared environmental impact statement, shall study, develop, and describe only the activity and the alternative of no action; and in an NEPA-prepared environmental assessment, shall not be required to study, develop, and describe the alternative of no action. The bill makes permanent the authority to designate, at state request, treatment areas in national forests that are experiencing an insect or disease epidemic. The bill revises authorities for watershed restoration and protection services. The Department of Agriculture shall establish a pilot arbitration program under which specified forest management projects challenged in a civil action may be designated for an alternative dispute resolution procedure instead of judicial review.
AI Summary
This bill makes several changes to improve forest management practices on National Forest System land. The key provisions are:
1. Establishes categorical exclusions from environmental assessment and impact statement requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for certain forest management activities like creating early seral habitat, improving wildlife habitat, commercial thinning, and salvaging dead/dying trees.
2. Expands the existing categorical exclusion for insect and disease infestation by making it permanent and increasing the acreage limit from 3,000 to 10,000 acres.
3. Streamlines the environmental review process by limiting the alternatives that must be studied in NEPA documents for forest management activities.
4. Modifies the "Good Neighbor Authority" to remove the requirement that activities be "permanent" and repeals a separate related provision.
5. Makes changes to stewardship end result contracting projects, including allowing the retention of existing wood products infrastructure.
6. Establishes a pilot arbitration program within the Forest Service to provide an alternative dispute resolution procedure for certain forestry projects instead of judicial review.
7. Imposes restrictions on the award of legal fees and expenses in civil actions related to covered forestry projects.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Committee on Environment and Public Works. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 115-112. (on 09/27/2017)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1731/all-info |
| BillText | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s1731/BILLS-115s1731is.pdf |
| Bill | https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s1731/BILLS-115s1731is.pdf.pdf |
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