H.R. 8682

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8682 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8682

To codify the categorical exclusion proposed in the National 
Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures for the Bureau of Land 
Management related to salvage harvesting published on April 6, 2026, 
and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 7, 2026

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

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To codify the categorical exclusion proposed in the National 
Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures for the Bureau of Land 
Management related to salvage harvesting published on April 6, 2026, 
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 ``Accelerating Forest Management 
Act''.

SEC. 2. CODIFICATION OF CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.

(a) In General.--Salvage harvesting activities described in 
subsection (b) are a category of actions hereby designated as being 
categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental 
assessment or an environmental impact statement under section 102 of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332).
(b) Salvage Harvesting Activities Designated for Categorical 
Exclusions.--
(1) In general.--The salvage harvesting activities 
designated under this section for categorical exclusion are--
(A) covered actions with respect to dead or dying 
trees resulting from fire, insects, disease, drought, 
or other disturbances within treatment areas--
(i) not to exceed 1,000 acres where the 
disturbance affects 3,000 acres of Bureau-
managed lands or less; and
(ii) not to exceed the lesser of 5,000 
acres or 1/3 of the disturbance area where the 
disturbance exceeds 3,000 acres of Bureau-
managed lands; and
(B) carried out in conformance with applicable land 
use planning decisions.
(2) Limitations.--In addition to the covered actions under 
paragraph (1), salvage harvesting activities to which the 
categorical exclusion applies under this section--
(A) may include construction of up to 1 mile of new 
permanent road to facilitate covered actions, provided 
that all segments conform to applicable land use 
planning decisions with route-specific designations 
disclosed where travel management planning has been 
completed;
(B) may include maintenance and renovation of 
existing roads as needed;
(C) may include construction of temporary roads not 
to exceed a ratio of 2.25 miles per 1,000 acres of 
harvest area as needed, provided that the temporary 
roads--
(i) are not part of the permanent 
transportation system of the Bureau;
(ii) are designed to standards appropriate 
for their intended use (safety, erosion 
control, sedimentation prevention, and resource 
protection);
(iii) are not needed for long-term resource 
management; and
(iv) are decommissioned and stabilized 
after use to minimize erosion and protect water 
quality; and
(D) require the disclosure of design features, in 
documentation of finding that an action is excluded 
pursuant to the use of this categorical exclusion, that 
address the following resource considerations 
consistent with applicable land use plan decisions, or, 
where no plan requirements apply, specify how the 
following resource considerations are addressed:
(i) Snag and downed wood--amount to be 
created or retained.
(ii) Erosion control--specifications or 
measures (e.g., water bars, dispersed slash).
(iii) Soil compaction--criteria for 
avoidance, minimization, or remediation.
(iv) Logging systems--types and scope of 
constraints (e.g., seasonal, location, extent, 
etc.).
(v) Seasonal operations--purpose and extent 
of operating restrictions.
(vi) Invasive species--measures to prevent 
or limit spread.
(vii) Riparian areas--buffer widths and/or 
operating restrictions.
(viii) Prescribed fire--operating 
constraints for underburning or pile burning.
(ix) Temporary roads--decommissioning 
standards.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Bureau.--The term ``Bureau'' means the Bureau of Land 
Management.
(2) Covered actions.--The term ``covered actions'' means 
the one or more of the following actions:
(A) Cutting, yarding, and removal of dead or dying 
trees.
(B) Cutting, yarding, and removal of live trees 
needed for operations, landings, skid trails, or road 
clearing.
(C) Chipping/grinding or removal of residual slash.
(D) Jackpot burning, pile burning, and 
underburning.
(E) Seeding or planting necessary to accelerate 
native species re-establishment.
(3) Dying tree.--The term ``dying tree'' means a standing 
tree severely damaged by disturbance (such as fire, wind, 
insects, disease, drought) and, in the judgment of a forestry 
professional or someone technically trained for the work, is 
likely to die within two years.
(4) Permanent road.--The term ``permanent road'' means a 
road constructed or reconstructed for use, as part of the 
permanent transportation system of the Bureau.
(5) Temporary road.--The term ``temporary road'' means a 
road authorized by contract, permit, lease, written 
authorization, or emergency operation, not added to the 
permanent system, and decommissioned after use.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF FOREST ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND RECOVERY FUND.

Title I of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111-88) is amended in the 
text under the heading ``FOREST ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND RECOVERY FUND'' by 
striking ``2020'' each place it appears and inserting ``2033''.
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