I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8230 

To streamline the permitting process for communications infrastructure on 

National Forest System lands. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 2, 2024 

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota (for himself and Mr. BACON) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, 

and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 

such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To streamline the permitting process for communications 

infrastructure on National Forest System lands. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Facilitating Optimal 

5 and Rapid Expansion and Siting of Telecommunications 

6 Act’’ or the ‘‘FOREST Act’’. 


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•HR 8230 IH

1 SEC. 2. EXEMPTION FOR PREVIOUSLY ANALYZED AREAS OF 

2 NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The requirements under the Na4 tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 

5 et seq.) or division A of subtitle 54, United States Code, 

6 shall not apply to an application for a communications use 

7 authorization on National Forest System lands, including 

8 National Forest System lands on which authorized utili9 ties, communications facilities, powerline facilities or roads 

10 have been installed, if— 

11 (1) the communications equipment is located in 

12 or on existing infrastructure; or 

13 (2) the communications facility is located on 

14 previously analyzed areas of National Forest System 

15 lands. 

16 (b) NO ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION REQUIRED

17 UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.—Notwithstanding 

18 any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not be re19 quired to reinitiate consultation of the requirements under 

20 the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 

21 4321 et seq.) or division A of subtitle 54, United States 

22 Code, for an application for a communications use author23 ization on previously analyzed areas of National Forest 

24 System lands if new information concerning a previously 

25 analyzed area of National Forest Service land becomes 

26 available. 


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•HR 8230 IH

1 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

2 (1) COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY; COMMUNICA3 TIONS USE AUTHORIZATION.—The terms ‘‘commu4 nications facility’’ and ‘‘communications use author5 ization’’ have the meanings given the terms, respec6 tively, in section 8705 of the Agriculture Improve7 ment Act of 2018 (43 U.S.C. 1761a). 

8 (2) PREVIOUSLY ANALYZED AREAS OF NA9 TIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS.—The term ‘‘pre10 viously analyzed areas of National Forest System 

11 lands’’ means any National Forest Service land with 

12 respect to which the Secretary has— 

13 (A) granted, issued, and executed a com14 munications use authorization; and 

15 (B) conducted sufficient environmental or 

16 historical reviews. 

17 (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

18 the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 

19 Chief of the Forest Service. 

Æ 


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