Fix Our Forests Act

12/5/2024, 9:05 AM
Congress
118

Number
HR - 8790

Introduced on
2024-06-18

# Amendments
16

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

9/24/2024

Related

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
Passed in House
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Fix Our Forests Act

This bill establishes requirements for managing forests on federal land, including requirements concerning reducing wildfire threats, expediting the review of certain forest management projects, and implementing forest management projects and other activities.

Specifically, the bill (1) designates certain firesheds at high risk for wildfires as fireshed management areas; (2) directs the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Geological Survey to jointly establish an interagency Fireshed Center that is responsible for duties related to assessing and predicting fire, including maintaining a fireshed registry on a publicly accessible website that provides interactive geospatial data on individual firesheds; and (3) makes other requirements related to reducing wildfire.

Next, the bill expedites the review of certain forest management projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and exempts certain activities from NEPA review. It also establishes intra-agency strike teams to accelerate the review and any interagency consultation processes under NEPA, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the National Historic Preservation Act. It also limits consultation requirements concerning threatened and endangered species under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Management and Policy Act of 1976. Finally, it limits litigation involving fireshed management projects and limits remedies that courts may provide.

Additionally, the bill supports reducing community wildfire risks, carrying out forest restoration and stewardship activities, conducting biochar demonstration projects, and advancing technologies to address forest wildfires.

The Fix Our Forests Act, also known as Bill 118 hr 8790, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to address the issue of forest management and wildfire prevention in the United States.

The Fix Our Forests Act aims to improve the health and resilience of the nation's forests by increasing funding for forest management activities, such as thinning and prescribed burns. This bill also seeks to streamline the permitting process for forest management projects and provide incentives for private landowners to engage in forest management practices.

Additionally, the Fix Our Forests Act includes provisions to address the growing threat of wildfires in the US. This bill allocates funding for wildfire prevention and suppression efforts, as well as for the rehabilitation of forests affected by wildfires. It also aims to improve coordination between federal, state, and local agencies in responding to wildfires. Overall, the Fix Our Forests Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to address the challenges facing the nation's forests and improve their health and resilience. If passed, this bill could have a significant impact on forest management and wildfire prevention efforts in the United States.
Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo expedite under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and improve forest management activities on National Forest System lands, on public lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, and on Tribal lands to return resilience to overgrown, fire-prone forested lands, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Public Lands and Natural Resources

Potential Impact
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Agricultural practices and innovations
Alternative and renewable resources
Building construction
California
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Community life and organization
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Ecology
Emergency planning and evacuation
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Forests, forestry, trees
Geography and mapping
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Horticulture and plants
Indian lands and resources rights
Intergovernmental relations
Internet, web applications, social media
Judicial procedure and administration
Judicial review and appeals
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Motor fuels
Nevada
Public contracts and procurement
Public participation and lobbying
Public-private cooperation
Research and development
Roads and highways
Rural conditions and development
Soil pollution
State and local finance
State and local government operations
Technology transfer and commercialization
Water use and supply
Watersheds
Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary1/23/2025

Fix Our Forests Act

This bill establishes requirements for managing forests on federal land, including requirements concerning reducing wildfire threats, expediting the review of certain forest management projects, and imple...


Latest Action11/12/2024
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.