Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 879
115th Congress(2017-2018)
National Forest Ecosystem Improvement Act of 2017
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Apr 6, 2017
Overview
Text
Introduced
Apr 6, 2017
Latest Action
Apr 6, 2017
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
879
Congress
115
Policy Area
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Primary focus of measure is natural areas (including wilderness); lands under government jurisdiction; land use practices and policies; parks, monuments, and historic sites; fisheries and marine resources; mining and minerals. Measures concerning energy supplies and production may fall under Energy policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Wyoming
Republican
Arizona
Republican
Wyoming
Senate Votes (0)
House Votes (0)
No Senate votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

National Forest Ecosystem Improvement Act of 2017

This bill directs the Forest Service to prioritize and carry out ecosystem restoration projects on National Forest System (NFS) land to accomplish one or more of the objectives specified in this bill, which include restoring terrestrial habitat, carrying out a needed timber stand improvement, reducing the risk or extent of insect or disease infestation, or reducing wildland fire severity potential.

The Forest Service may not carry out an ecosystem restoration project on any area of NFS land in the National Wilderness Preservation System or on which removal of vegetation is prohibited by law.

The Forest Service must accomplish restoration treatments throughout the NFS on 1 million acres using certain mechanical treatment methods and on another 1 million acres using prescribed fire.

The Forest Service shall prepare an environmental assessment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for each ecosystem restoration project that accomplishes objectives of this bill.

The Forest Service shall study and describe in each ecosystem restoration project both the proposed action and a no-action alternative.

The Forest Service shall establish an arbitration program as an alternative dispute resolution process in lieu of judicial review for specified types of ecosystem restoration projects.

A categorical exclusion is made available to the Forest Service for certain forest management activities in order to: (1) expedite specified critical response actions, (2) expedite salvage operations in response to catastrophic events, and (3) meet forest plan goals for early successional forests.

For each forest management activity covered by a categorical exclusion granted by this bill, the Forest Service shall satisfy the interagency consultation obligations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 by achieving compliance with certain alternative consultation procedures established by federal regulation.

Text (1)
Actions (2)
04/06/2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
04/06/2017
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:36:58 PM