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FIRESHEDS Act
12/15/2023, 3:58 PM
Summary of Bill HR 3522
The FIRESHEDS Act proposes the establishment of a national strategy for fireshed management, which would involve collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies, as well as private landowners and other stakeholders. The goal of this strategy is to prioritize and implement projects that will reduce the risk of wildfires in firesheds, such as thinning forests, conducting controlled burns, and creating defensible space around communities.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions for funding fireshed management projects, as well as monitoring and evaluating their effectiveness. It also calls for the development of a national database to track fireshed conditions and the progress of management efforts. Overall, the FIRESHEDS Act seeks to improve wildfire prevention and management efforts in forested areas by promoting collaboration and strategic planning among various stakeholders. It aims to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and protect communities and natural resources from the devastating impacts of these events.
Congressional Summary of HR 3522
Forest Improvements through Research and Emergency Stewardship for Healthy Ecosystem Development and Sustainability Act or the FIRESHEDS Act
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA), with respect to National Forest System lands, and the Department of the Interior, with respect to public lands, no later than 90 days after receiving a request from a state, to enter into an agreement with such state to jointly
- designate one or more fireshed management areas within such state, and
- conduct fireshed management projects in such fireshed management areas.
Not later than 90 days after entering into an agreement, the USDA or Interior, as appropriate, and such state shall jointly conduct a stewardship and fireshed assessment.
The USDA and Interior shall carry out fireshed management projects in accordance with the timeline and project size limitations included in the stewardship and fireshed assessment.
Fireshed management projects shall be categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement and exempt from the special administrative review process.
The bill makes permanent the authority for a state to use revenue from timber sales under a good neighbor agreement for forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration services.
