Proven Forest Management Act of 2021

To direct the Secretary concerned to coordinate with impacted parties when conducting a forest management activity, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Proven Forest Management Act of 2021 2. Forest management activities for National Forest System land (a) Coordination In conducting a forest management activity on National Forest System land, the Secretary concerned shall, as appropriate, coordinate with impacted parties to increase efficiency and maximize the compatibility of management practices across National Forest System land. (b) Forest management activities (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), in conducting a forest management activity on National Forest System land, the Secretary concerned shall conduct such activity in a manner that attains multiple ecosystem benefits, including— (A) reducing forest fuels; (B) maintaining biological diversity; (C) improving wetland and water quality, including in Stream Environment Zones; and (D) increasing resilience to changing water temperature and precipitation. (2) Exception for cost Paragraph (1) shall not apply if the Secretary concerned determines that the costs associated with attaining multiple ecosystem benefits are excessive. (c) Ground disturbance Consistent with applicable Federal law and the forest plan developed for the relevant National Forest System land, the Secretary concerned shall— (1) establish any post-program ground condition criteria for a ground disturbance caused by a forest management activity required by such plan; and (2) provide for monitoring to ascertain the attainment of relevant post-program conditions. (d) Availability of categorical exclusion for certain forest management activities A forest management activity conducted on National Forest System land for the purpose of reducing forest fuels is categorically excluded from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (1) notwithstanding section 423 of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009 (division E of Public Law 111–8 (2) is developed— (A) in coordination with impacted parties, specifically including representatives of local governments, such as county supervisors or county commissioners; and (B) in consultation with other interested entities; and (3) is consistent with the forest plan developed for the relevant National Forest System land. (e) Cooperative Authorities The Secretary concerned, in conjunction with land adjustment programs, may enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with a qualified entity to provide for fuel reduction, erosion control, reforestation, Stream Environment Zone restoration, and similar management activities on Federal land and non-Federal land within the programs. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Interested entities The term interested entities (A) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (B) State, local, and Tribal governments; (C) local fire departments; and (D) other relevant volunteer groups. (2) Forest management activity The term “forest management activity” means a project or activity carried out by the Secretary concerned on National Forest System land and consistent with the forest plan covering such land. (3) National forest system The term “National Forest System” has the meaning given that term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 ( 16 U.S.C. 1609(a) (4) Public lands The term “public lands” has the meaning given that term in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1702 (5) Secretary Concerned The term Secretary concerned (A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System land; and (B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public lands. (6) Stream Environment Zone The term Stream Environment Zone

Summary: Proven Forest Management Act of 2021 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA), when conducting a forest management activity on National Forest System land, to coordinate with impacted parties to increase efficiency and maximize the compatibility of management practices across such land. USDA shall conduct such an activity on National Forest System land in a manner that attains multiple ecosystem benefits, including reducing forest fuels and maintaining biological diversity. However, a forest management activity shall not be conducted if the costs associated with attaining such benefits are excessive. Additionally, the USDA shall (1) establish any post-program ground condition criteria for a ground disturbance caused by a forest management activity required by the applicable forest plan, and (2) provide for monitoring to ascertain the attainment of relevant post-program conditions. The bill categorically excludes certain forest management activities for reducing forest fuels from certain environmental impact requirements. USDA or the Department of the Interior, as appropriate, in conjunction with land adjustment programs, may enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with a qualified entity to provide for fuel reduction, erosion control, reforestation, Stream Environment Zone restoration, and similar management activities on federal lands and nonfederal lands within such programs.