Tree Spiking Mitigation Act of 2021

Tree Spiking Mitigation Act of 2021

This bill directs the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to coordinate to take necessary actions to ensure the detection, identification, and, as determined to be appropriate, mitigation of tree spiking devices located on federal lands. A tree spiking device includes spikes, nails, or other objects hammered, driven, fastened, or otherwise placed into or on any timber to impede logging.

To carry out such activities, the Forest Service and the BLM shall prioritize areas in which (1) incidences of tree spiking devices have occurred, or (2) the Forest Service and the BLM suspect that there are tree spiking devices.

No later than 90 days after the enactment of this bill, the Forest Service and the BLM shall, where appropriate, update safety guidelines and training protocols to include the awareness, detection, identification, and mitigation of tree spiking devices.

Bill 117 HR 4842, also known as the Tree Spiking Mitigation Act of 2021, aims to address the issue of tree spiking in forests across the United States. Tree spiking is a dangerous practice where metal spikes are inserted into trees to prevent logging, posing serious risks to loggers and mill workers.

The bill proposes several measures to mitigate tree spiking, including increasing penalties for those who engage in the practice. It also calls for the establishment of a task force to study the impact of tree spiking on the logging industry and the environment.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for increased monitoring and enforcement efforts to prevent tree spiking in national forests. It also seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of tree spiking and promote responsible logging practices. Overall, the Tree Spiking Mitigation Act of 2021 aims to protect the safety of workers in the logging industry, preserve the integrity of forests, and promote sustainable logging practices.