Action Versus No Action Act

To require that only two alternatives be considered with respect to certain proposed collaborative forest management activities, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Action Versus No Action Act 2. Analysis of only two alternatives (action versus no action) in proposed collaborative forest management activities (a) Application to certain environmental assessments and environmental impact statements This section shall apply whenever the Secretary concerned prepares an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement pursuant to section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332 (1) will occur on lands identified as the Secretary concerned as suitable for timber production; and (2) meets at least one of the following conditions: (A) The forest management activity will occur on lands designated by the Secretary (or designee thereof) pursuant to section 602(b) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6591a(b) (B) The forest management activity is developed through a collaborative process. (C) The forest management activity is proposed by a resource advisory committee. (D) The forest management activity is covered by a community wildfire protection plan. (b) Consideration of alternatives In the case of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement described in subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall study, develop, and describe only the following two alternatives: (1) The forest management activity. (2) The alternative of no action. (c) Elements of no action alternative In the case of the alternative of no action described in subsection (b)(2), the Secretary concerned shall consider whether to evaluate— (1) the effect of no action on— (A) forest health; (B) potential losses of life and property; (C) habitat diversity; (D) wildfire potential; (E) insect and disease potential; and (F) timber production; and (2) the implications of a resulting decline in forest health, loss of habitat diversity, wildfire, or insect or disease infestation (given fire and insect and disease historic cycles) on— (A) potential losses of life and property; (B) domestic water supply in the project area; (C) wildlife habitat loss; and (D) other economic and social factors. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Collaborative process The term collaborative process 16 U.S.C. 6591b(b)(1)(C) (2) Community wildfire protection plan The term community wildfire protection plan 16 U.S.C. 6511 (3) Resource advisory committee The term resource advisory committee 16 U.S.C. 7121 (4) Secretary concerned The term Secretary concerned (A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System lands; and (B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public lands.

Summary: Action Versus No Action Act This bill limits the scope of certain environmental assessments or impact statements related to forest management activities on National Forest System lands or public lands suitable for timber production to a consideration only of the effects of the forest management activity and the alternative of no action. Specifically, the bill applies to assessments or impact statements prepared by the Department of Agriculture (USDA), with respect to National Forest System lands, or the Department of the Interior, with respect to public lands, for forest management activities that meet at least one of the criteria specified. In the case of the alternative of no action, USDA or Interior shall consider whether to evaluate the effect of no action on, among other things, forest health, wildfire potential, insect and disease potential, and timber production; and the implications of a resulting decline in forest health, loss of habitat diversity, wildfire, or insect or disease infestation on potential losses of life and property, domestic water supply in the project area, and wildlife habitat loss.