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National Forest System Vegetation Management Pilot Program Act of 2017

USA115th CongressHR-2921| House 
| Updated: 11/1/2017
Kevin Cramer

Kevin Cramer

Republican Representative

North Dakota

Cosponsors (9)
Ken Buck (Republican)Collin C. Peterson (Democratic)Timothy J. Walz (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Ron Kind (Democratic)Jared Polis (Democratic)Ed Perlmutter (Democratic)Scott R. Tipton (Republican)Mike Coffman (Republican)

Federal Lands Subcommittee, Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee, Agriculture Committee, Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.) National Forest System Vegetation Management Pilot Program Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct a limited, voluntary pilot program to permit vegetation management projects on National Forest System (NFS) land adjacent to rights-of-way to better protect utility infrastructure from potential passing wildfires. Program participants must have a right-of-way on NFS land. USDA shall give priority to holders of a right-of-way who have worked with Forest Service fire scientists and used technologies, such as light detection and ranging surveys, to improve utility infrastructure protection prescriptions. Vegetation management projects will involve limited and selective vegetation management activities, which: shall create the least amount of disturbance necessary to protect utility infrastructure from passing wildfires; may include thinning, fuel reduction, and creation and treatment of shaded fuel breaks; must only take place adjacent to the participant's right-of-way or within 75 feet of it; must not take place in any designated wilderness area, wilderness study area, or inventoried roadless area; and shall be subject to approval by the Forest Service. Participants shall not be held liable to the federal government for damage that was proximately caused by activities conducted pursuant to an approved vegetation management project, unless: such activities were carried out in a manner that was grossly negligent or that was in violation of criminal law, or the damage was caused by the participant's failure to comply with the specific safety requirements imposed by the Forest Service as a condition of participation in the pilot program. In order to implement the pilot program in an efficient and expeditious manner, USDA may waive or modify specific provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, including to allow for the development of contracts or agreements on a noncompetitive basis. USDA may: retain any funds provided to the Forest Service by participants in the pilot program, and use such funds to conduct such program. The bill states that the authority to conduct the pilot program and any vegetation management projects under such program will expire on December 21, 2027.

Bill Text Versions

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Timeline
Jun 15, 2017
Introduced in House
Jun 15, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jun 26, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Jul 11, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
Oct 4, 2017
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Oct 4, 2017
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Oct 19, 2017
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 261.
Oct 19, 2017
Reported by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 115-357, Part I.
Oct 19, 2017
Committee on Natural Resources discharged.
Oct 31, 2017
Mr. Crawford moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Oct 31, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8280-8282)
Oct 31, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2921.
Oct 31, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8280-8281)
Oct 31, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8280-8281)
Oct 31, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 1, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  • June 15, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • June 15, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • June 26, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.


  • July 11, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.


  • October 4, 2017
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.


  • October 4, 2017
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • October 19, 2017
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 261.


  • October 19, 2017
    Reported by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 115-357, Part I.


  • October 19, 2017
    Committee on Natural Resources discharged.


  • October 31, 2017
    Mr. Crawford moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • October 31, 2017
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8280-8282)


  • October 31, 2017
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2921.


  • October 31, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8280-8281)


  • October 31, 2017
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8280-8281)


  • October 31, 2017
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • November 1, 2017
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • S 115-2073: A bill to establish a vegetation management pilot program on National Forest System land to better protect utility infrastructure from passing wildfire, and for other purposes.
  • HR 115-2: Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
Congressional oversightFiresForests, forestry, treesLand use and conservationPublic utilities and utility rates

National Forest System Vegetation Management Pilot Program Act of 2017

USA115th CongressHR-2921| House 
| Updated: 11/1/2017
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.) National Forest System Vegetation Management Pilot Program Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct a limited, voluntary pilot program to permit vegetation management projects on National Forest System (NFS) land adjacent to rights-of-way to better protect utility infrastructure from potential passing wildfires. Program participants must have a right-of-way on NFS land. USDA shall give priority to holders of a right-of-way who have worked with Forest Service fire scientists and used technologies, such as light detection and ranging surveys, to improve utility infrastructure protection prescriptions. Vegetation management projects will involve limited and selective vegetation management activities, which: shall create the least amount of disturbance necessary to protect utility infrastructure from passing wildfires; may include thinning, fuel reduction, and creation and treatment of shaded fuel breaks; must only take place adjacent to the participant's right-of-way or within 75 feet of it; must not take place in any designated wilderness area, wilderness study area, or inventoried roadless area; and shall be subject to approval by the Forest Service. Participants shall not be held liable to the federal government for damage that was proximately caused by activities conducted pursuant to an approved vegetation management project, unless: such activities were carried out in a manner that was grossly negligent or that was in violation of criminal law, or the damage was caused by the participant's failure to comply with the specific safety requirements imposed by the Forest Service as a condition of participation in the pilot program. In order to implement the pilot program in an efficient and expeditious manner, USDA may waive or modify specific provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, including to allow for the development of contracts or agreements on a noncompetitive basis. USDA may: retain any funds provided to the Forest Service by participants in the pilot program, and use such funds to conduct such program. The bill states that the authority to conduct the pilot program and any vegetation management projects under such program will expire on December 21, 2027.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
4 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jun 15, 2017
Introduced in House
Jun 15, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jun 26, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Jul 11, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
Oct 4, 2017
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Oct 4, 2017
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Oct 19, 2017
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 261.
Oct 19, 2017
Reported by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 115-357, Part I.
Oct 19, 2017
Committee on Natural Resources discharged.
Oct 31, 2017
Mr. Crawford moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Oct 31, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8280-8282)
Oct 31, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2921.
Oct 31, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8280-8281)
Oct 31, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8280-8281)
Oct 31, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 1, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  • June 15, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • June 15, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • June 26, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.


  • July 11, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.


  • October 4, 2017
    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.


  • October 4, 2017
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.


  • October 19, 2017
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 261.


  • October 19, 2017
    Reported by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 115-357, Part I.


  • October 19, 2017
    Committee on Natural Resources discharged.


  • October 31, 2017
    Mr. Crawford moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.


  • October 31, 2017
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8280-8282)


  • October 31, 2017
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2921.


  • October 31, 2017
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8280-8281)


  • October 31, 2017
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8280-8281)


  • October 31, 2017
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • November 1, 2017
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Kevin Cramer

Kevin Cramer

Republican Representative

North Dakota

Cosponsors (9)
Ken Buck (Republican)Collin C. Peterson (Democratic)Timothy J. Walz (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Ron Kind (Democratic)Jared Polis (Democratic)Ed Perlmutter (Democratic)Scott R. Tipton (Republican)Mike Coffman (Republican)

Federal Lands Subcommittee, Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee, Agriculture Committee, Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, Natural Resources Committee

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • S 115-2073: A bill to establish a vegetation management pilot program on National Forest System land to better protect utility infrastructure from passing wildfire, and for other purposes.
  • HR 115-2: Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightFiresForests, forestry, treesLand use and conservationPublic utilities and utility rates