Emergency Fuel Reduction Act of 2017

To amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to expedite wildfire prevention projects to reduce the risk of wildfire on certain high-risk Federal land, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Emergency Fuel Reduction Act of 2017 2. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to expedite wildfire prevention projects to reduce the risk of wildfire on certain high-risk Federal land adjacent to communities, private property, and critical infrastructure; (2) to improve forest and wildland health; and (3) to promote the recovery of threatened or endangered species or other species under consideration to be listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 16 U.S.C. 1531 3. Expedited review of projects on Federal land Section 104 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6514 (1) by redesignating subsections (e) through (h) as subsections (f) through (i), respectively; (2) in subsection (c)(1)(C)(i), by striking subsection (f) subsection (g) (3) by inserting after subsection (d) the following: (e) Categorical exclusion of certain projects (1) In general An authorized hazardous fuel reduction project shall be categorically excluded from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 42 U.S.C. 4321 (A) involves the removal of— (i) insect-infected trees; (ii) dead or dying trees; (iii) trees presenting a threat to public safety; or (iv) other hazardous fuels threatening— (I) utility or communications infrastructure; (II) municipal water supply systems; (III) campgrounds; (IV) roadsides; (V) schools; or (VI) other infrastructure; (B) is conducted on Federal land that— (i) is not located in the wildland-urban interface; (ii) is located within not more than 1.5 miles of non-Federal land; and (iii) on which the Secretary determines that conditions, such as the risk of wildfire, an insect or disease epidemic, or the presence of invasive species, pose a risk to adjacent non-Federal land; or (C) treats 10,000 acres or less of Federal land that— (i) is at particular risk for wildfire; (ii) contains threatened and endangered species habitat; or (iii) provides conservation benefits to— (I) a species that is not listed as an endangered species or a threatened species under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1533 (II) a State-listed species; or (III) a special concern species. (2) Applicability This subsection shall not apply to Federal land— (A) that is a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System; (B) on which the removal of vegetation is specifically prohibited by Federal statute; or (C) that is within a National Monument as of the date of enactment of this subsection. .

Summary: Emergency Fuel Reduction Act of 2017 This bill amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to categorically exclude an authorized hazardous fuel reduction project from the environmental review requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 if the project: involves the removal of insect-infested trees, dead or dying trees, trees presenting a threat to public safety or electrical reliability, or the removal of other hazardous fuels threatening certain infrastructure; is conducted on federal land that is not located in the wildland-urban interface, is located within at least 1.5 miles of nonfederal land, and on which conditions are determined to pose a risk to adjacent nonfederal land; or treats 10,000 acres or less of federal land that is at particular risk for wildfire, contains threatened and endangered species habitat, or provides conservation benefits to a species that is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, but is under consideration to be listed, or a state-listed or special concern species. The bill does not apply to federal land that is wilderness, on which the removal of vegetation is specifically prohibited, or that is within a national monument.