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A bill to amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to expedite hazardous fuel or insect and disease risk reduction projects on certain National Forest System land, and for other purposes.
2/11/2025, 11:56 AM
Summary of Bill S 449
The bill emphasizes the importance of taking proactive measures to prevent wildfires and protect forests from the spread of harmful insects and diseases. By expediting these risk reduction projects, the hope is to minimize the potential for large-scale forest fires and preserve the health of the nation's forests.
In addition to addressing these immediate concerns, the bill also includes provisions for other purposes related to forest management and conservation. Overall, the focus of Bill 119 s 449 is on promoting the health and sustainability of National Forest System land through targeted and timely actions.
Congressional Summary of S 449
Expediting Forest Restoration and Recovery Act of 2025
This bill excludes from environmental review certain projects that reduce the risk of damage to National Forests from wildfires or insect infestations. It also makes permanent the authority for states to retain and use revenues from good neighbor agreement timber sales for certain restoration services.
The bill exempts such projects from environmental review requirements if the projects are carried out in (1) insect and disease treatment areas where timber harvest activities are allowed; or (2) areas in Fire Regime Group IV, which are areas that typically burn every 35-200 years with high severity. However, the exemption does not apply to National Wilderness Preservation System lands or certain roadless areas.
The Forest Service must conduct an environmental review for such a project if it is carried out in (1) an area where significant resource concerns exist; or (2) an insect and disease treatment area larger than a certain size.
In the case of environmental reviews of projects addressing wildfires or insect infestations, the Forest Service must describe (1) the proposed agency action, and (2) the alternative of no agency action.
In insect and disease treatment areas, the Forest Service must prioritize reducing the risks of insect infestations and wildfires over other objectives in forest plans.
