H.R. 8061

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8061 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8061

To prohibit a road construction project in the White River National 
Forest in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 24, 2026

Mr. Neguse introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To prohibit a road construction project in the White River National 
Forest in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Forest Resources Accountability 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) Forest Service staffing decreased by 6,000 between 
January 20, 2025, and December 31, 2025;
(2) since January 20, 2025, the reduced staffing of the 
Forest Service has resulted in--
(A) 40 percent less hazardous fuels reduction 
projects nationwide;
(B) 22 percent less trails maintenance projects 
nationwide; and
(C) significant reductions to science and research 
that inform Forest Service management of timber, fire, 
recreation, wildlife, water, and natural resources on 
the 193,000,000 acres managed by the Forest Service; 
and
(3) with limited staffing resources, the Forest Service 
must focus on projects that address public needs, including--
(A) wildfire risk reduction;
(B) forest treatments that reduce insect and 
disease infestation;
(C) improving recreation opportunities, including 
trail maintenance and permitting recreation trips;
(D) maintaining and improving drinking water 
resources;
(E) sustaining healthy wildlife populations and 
habitat; and
(F) ensuring scientifically sound stewardship of 
the health, diversity, and productivity of United 
States forests and grasslands to meet the needs of 
present and future generations.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to protect critical winter 
wildlife habitat in the Federal land (as defined in section 3).

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN THE WHITE RIVER 
NATIONAL FOREST.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means sections 
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33 of T. 4 S., 
R. 82 W in the White River National Forest in the State of 
Colorado.
(2) Parcel.--The term ``parcel'' means the 680-acre parcel 
described on page 1 of the record of decision, known as the 
Berlaimont Estates parcel.
(3) Record of decision.--The term ``record of decision'' 
means the record of decision for the Berlaimont Estates Access 
Road, dated March 2023.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of Agriculture.
(b) Adequate Access.--In providing adequate access to inholdings 
within the Federal land, the Secretary shall only provide access to 
reasonable and necessary routes that are--
(1) in existence as of the date of the record of decision;
(2) unpaved;
(3) seasonal; and
(4) limited to specific uses set forth in a special use 
permit that ensures the access remains subject to enforceable 
terms and conditions that will protect the National Forest 
System.
(c) Prohibition.--The Secretary shall not approve or issue any 
easement, special use authorization, or other authorization to open, 
improve, authorize, permit, construct, plan, or otherwise consider any 
utility corridor or year-round road described in the record of decision 
or any substantially similar road access project on the Federal land.
(d) Additional Prohibitions.--
(1) In general.--No Federal funds may be used to open, 
improve, authorize, permit, construct, plan, or otherwise 
consider any easement, special use authorization, or other 
authorization allowing any utility corridor or year-round road 
to be located on the Federal land to access the parcel.
(2) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection prevents the use, 
in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, of any 
Forest Service road existing on the date of enactment of this 
Act by the Forest Service, any owner of the parcel, or the 
public.
(e) Land Acquisition From Willing Sellers.--
(1) In general.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
Secretary shall acquire, through purchase, exchange, or 
donation, from any willing seller, the parcel.
(2) Coordination.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall coordinate with the State of Colorado, Eagle 
County, and local land trusts to leverage non-Federal programs, 
authorities, and resources in the efforts to acquire the 
parcel.
(3) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report 
describing the efforts of the Secretary, the owner of the 
parcel, and the entities described in paragraph (2) to--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
of Representatives.
(4) Incorporation of land.--If the parcel is acquired by 
the Secretary, the parcel shall be incorporated into the White 
River National Forest and administered for the purposes of 
conservation of wildlife and the enjoyment of present and 
future generations.
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