Federal Lands Subcommittee, Natural Resources Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
This bill, known as the Forest Health and Wildfire Risk Reduction Act, aims to streamline certain forest management activities by codifying a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This exclusion exempts specific tree density modification activities from requiring an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, thereby accelerating projects designed to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk. To qualify for this exclusion, activities must be carried out within a treatment area of less than 5,000 acres and cannot involve silvicultural methods intended to regenerate whole stands, such as clearcutting, or vegetation management that converts forest to non-forest cover. The bill defines "covered actions" eligible for this exclusion, which include cutting and removal of commercial and non-commercial trees, chipping or grinding residual slash, and specific group selection silvicultural treatments not exceeding 2-acre patches or 10 percent of the treatment area. Additionally, associated activities like pile burning, underburning, and seeding or planting native species are permitted. Furthermore, the legislation allows for the construction of limited new permanent roads (up to 5 miles) and temporary roads (up to 2.5 miles per 1,000 acres), along with maintenance of existing roads, to facilitate these covered actions. Importantly, it mandates the disclosure of design features in project documentation to address critical resource considerations, such as snag and downed wood, erosion control, soil compaction, invasive species, and riparian area protection, ensuring environmental safeguards are still considered and documented for each project.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Environmental Protection
Forest Health and Wildfire Risk Reduction Act
USA119th CongressHR-8688| House
| Updated: 5/21/2026
This bill, known as the Forest Health and Wildfire Risk Reduction Act, aims to streamline certain forest management activities by codifying a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This exclusion exempts specific tree density modification activities from requiring an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, thereby accelerating projects designed to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk. To qualify for this exclusion, activities must be carried out within a treatment area of less than 5,000 acres and cannot involve silvicultural methods intended to regenerate whole stands, such as clearcutting, or vegetation management that converts forest to non-forest cover. The bill defines "covered actions" eligible for this exclusion, which include cutting and removal of commercial and non-commercial trees, chipping or grinding residual slash, and specific group selection silvicultural treatments not exceeding 2-acre patches or 10 percent of the treatment area. Additionally, associated activities like pile burning, underburning, and seeding or planting native species are permitted. Furthermore, the legislation allows for the construction of limited new permanent roads (up to 5 miles) and temporary roads (up to 2.5 miles per 1,000 acres), along with maintenance of existing roads, to facilitate these covered actions. Importantly, it mandates the disclosure of design features in project documentation to address critical resource considerations, such as snag and downed wood, erosion control, soil compaction, invasive species, and riparian area protection, ensuring environmental safeguards are still considered and documented for each project.