National Forest Good Neighbor Act of 2017

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Forest Good Neighbor Act of 
2017''.

SEC. 2. GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 19 (16 U.S.C. 2113) as section 
        18; and
            (2) by inserting after section 18 (as so redesignated) the 
        following:

``SEC. 19. GOOD NEIGHBOR AUTHORITY.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Authorized restoration services.--The term 
        `authorized restoration services' means similar and 
        complementary forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration 
        services carried out--
                    ``(A) on National Forest System land, except--
                            ``(i) a component of the National 
                        Wilderness Preservation System;
                            ``(ii) Federal land on which the removal of 
                        vegetation is prohibited or restricted by a law 
                        of Congress or a Presidential proclamation 
                        (including the applicable implementation plan); 
                        or
                            ``(iii) a wilderness study area; and
                    ``(B) by the Secretary or a Governor pursuant to a 
                good neighbor agreement.
            ``(2) Forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration 
        services.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `forest, rangeland, and 
                watershed restoration services' means--
                            ``(i) an activity to treat insect- or 
                        disease-infected trees;
                            ``(ii) an activity to reduce hazardous 
                        fuels; and
                            ``(iii) any other activity to restore or 
                        improve forest, rangeland, and watershed 
                        health, including fish and wildlife habitat.
                    ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `forest, rangeland, and 
                watershed restoration services' does not include--
                            ``(i) the construction, reconstruction, 
                        repair, or restoration of a paved or permanent 
                        road or parking area; or
                            ``(ii) the construction, alteration, 
                        repair, or replacement of a public building or 
                        work.
            ``(3) Good neighbor agreement.--The term `good neighbor 
        agreement' means a cooperative agreement or contract (including 
        a sole source contract) entered into between the Secretary and 
        a Governor to carry out authorized restoration services under 
        this section.
            ``(4) Governor.--The term `Governor' means the Governor or 
        any other appropriate executive official of a State.
            ``(5) Road.--The term `road' has the meaning given the term 
        in section 212.1 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as 
        in effect on the date of enactment of the National Forest Good 
        Neighbor Act of 2017).
            ``(6) State.--The term `State' means--
                    ``(A) a State; and
                    ``(B) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    ``(b) Good Neighbor Agreements.--
            ``(1) Authority.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may enter into a 
                good neighbor agreement with a Governor to carry out 
                authorized restoration services in accordance with this 
                section.
                    ``(B) Public availability.--The Secretary shall 
                make each good neighbor agreement available to the 
                public.
            ``(2) Timber sales.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subsections (d) and (g) of 
                section 14 of the National Forest Management Act of 
                1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a) shall not apply to authorized 
                restoration services.
                    ``(B) Approval of silviculture prescriptions and 
                marking guides.--The Secretary shall provide or approve 
                all silviculture prescriptions and marking guides to be 
                applied on National Forest System land described in 
                subsection (a)(1)(A) in any timber sale project 
                conducted under this section.
            ``(3) Retention of responsibilities.--Any decision required 
        to be made by the Secretary under the National Environmental 
        Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to any 
        authorized restoration services shall not be delegated to a 
        Governor.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 2A(c)(1) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance 
        Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101a(c)(1)) is amended by striking 
        ``section 19(b)'' and inserting ``section 18(b)''.
            (2) Section 7(e) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act 
        of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103c(e)) is amended in the first sentence 
        by striking ``section 19(b)'' and inserting ``section 18(b)''.
            (3) Section 13A(b) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance 
        Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2109a(b)) is amended by striking 
        ``section 19(a)'' and inserting ``section 18(a)''.

Summary: National Forest Good Neighbor Act of 2017 This bill amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to authorize the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enter into good neighbor agreements with states to carry out specified similar and complementary forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration services on certain National Forest System (NFS) lands. The bill makes requirements under the National Forest Management Act of 1976 regarding the advertisement of timber sales on NFS lands and the designation and supervision of the harvesting of trees, portions of trees, or forest products on NFS lands inapplicable to the restoration services authorized by this bill. USDA shall provide or approve all silviculture prescriptions and marking guides to be applied on NSF land in any timber sales project conducted pursuant to this bill. Any decision required to be made by USDA under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 concerning any such services shall not be delegated to any state.