Litigation Relief for Forest Management Projects Act

To amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to discourage litigation against the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management relating to land management projects. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Litigation Relief for Forest Management Projects Act 2. Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (a) Consultation regarding land management plans Section 6(d) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 ( 16 U.S.C. 1604(d) (1) by striking (d) The Secretary (d) Public participation and consultation (1) In general The Secretary ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (2) No additional consultation required after approval of land management plans (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no additional consultation shall be required under this subsection or any other provision of law (including section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 16 U.S.C. 1536 (i) the listing of a species as threatened or endangered, or a designation of critical habitat pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. (ii) any provision of a land management plan adopted as described in clause (i). (B) Effect of paragraph Nothing in this paragraph affects any applicable requirement of the Secretary to consult with the head of any other Federal department or agency— (i) regarding a project carried out, or proposed to be carried out, in an area designated as critical habitat pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. (ii) with respect to the development of a new land management plan or the revision of an existing land management plan. . (b) Definition of Secretary; conforming amendments (1) Definition of Secretary Section 3(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 ( 16 U.S.C. 1601(a) (referred to in this Act as the Secretary Secretary of Agriculture (2) Conforming amendments The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 ( 16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq. Secretary of Agriculture Secretary 3. Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 Section 202(f) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ( 43 U.S.C. 1712(f) (1) by striking (f) The Secretary (f) Public involvement (1) In general The Secretary ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (2) No additional consultation required after approval of land use plans (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no additional consultation shall be required under this subsection or any other provision of law (including section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 16 U.S.C. 1536 (i) the listing of a species as threatened or endangered, or a designation of critical habitat, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. (ii) any provision of a land use plan adopted as described in clause (i). (B) Effect of paragraph Nothing in this paragraph affects any applicable requirement of the Secretary to consult with the head of any other Federal department or agency— (i) regarding a project carried out, or proposed to be carried out, with respect to a species listed as threatened or endangered, or in an area designated as critical habitat, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. (ii) with respect to the development of a new land use plan or the revision of an existing land use plan. .

Summary: Litigation Relief for Forest Management Projects Act This bill amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 to prohibit any additional consultation from being required with respect to: (1) the listing of a species as threatened or endangered, or a designation of a critical habitat, if a land management plan has been adopted by the Department of Agriculture as of the designation date; or (2) any provision of such an adopted plan. The bill amends the Federal land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to prohibit any additional consultation from being required with respect to: (1) the listing of a species as threatened or endangered, or a designation of critical habitat, if a land use plan has been adopted by the Department of the Interior as of the designation date; or (2) any provision of such an adopted plan.