I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6994 
To require the reopening of covered recreation sites closed due to a natural 
disaster, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 16, 2024 
Mrs. KIM of California (for herself, Mr. LAMALFA, and Mr. TIFFANY) intro-
duced 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 consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To require the reopening of covered recreation sites closed 
due to a natural disaster, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Restoring Our Un-
opened Trails for Enjoyment and Safety Act’’ or the 
‘‘ROUTES Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. REOPENING OF COVERED RECREATION SITES 
CLOSED DUE TO NATURAL DISASTERS. 
(a) REOPENING REQUIRED.—In the case of a covered 
recreation site that is fully or partially closed due to dam-
age caused by a natural disaster (including hazard trees), 
the Secretary concerned shall reopen such covered recre-
ation site not later than 2 years after the date on which 
such natural disaster ends, as determined by the Secretary 
concerned. 
(b) CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FOR COVERED RECRE-
ATION SITE RESTORATION.— 
(1) CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION ESTABLISHED.— 
Activities described in paragraph (2) are a category 
of actions hereby designated as being categorically 
excluded from the preparation of an environmental 
assessment or an environmental impact statement 
under section 102 of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332). 
(2) ACTIVITIES DESIGNATED FOR CATEGORICAL 
EXCLUSION.—The activities designated under this 
section for a categorical exclusion are activities car-
ried out by the Secretary concerned on Interior rec-
reational lands or National Forest System lands 
where the primary purpose of such activity is, con-
sistent with the management plan applicable to such 
lands, to— 
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(A) repair and restore covered recreation 
sites damaged by a natural disaster; 
(B) remove hazard trees for the purpose of 
public safety or improving access to a covered 
recreation site; 
(C) mitigate and reduce soil erosion im-
pacting a covered recreation site; 
(D) restore drainage patterns to support a 
covered recreation site; or 
(E) any combination of the purposes speci-
fied in subparagraphs (A) through (D). 
(3) AVAILABILITY
OF
CATEGORICAL
EXCLU-
SION.—On and after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary concerned may use the cat-
egorical exclusion established under paragraph (1) in 
accordance with this subsection. 
(4) EXTRAORDINARY
CIRCUMSTANCES.—The 
activities categorically excluded under paragraph (1) 
shall be subject to the extraordinary circumstances 
procedures established pursuant to section 1501.4 of 
title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or any suc-
cessor regulation). 
(c) EMERGENCY HAZARD TREE REMOVAL.— 
(1) NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS.—With 
respect to hazard trees located on a parcel of Na-
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tional Forest System lands, during the 2-year period 
after a natural disaster on such parcel ends, as de-
termined by the Secretary of Agriculture, section 
220.4(b) of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as 
in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act) 
shall have the force and effect of law with respect 
to such parcel. 
(2) INTERIOR RECREATIONAL LANDS.—With re-
spect to hazard trees located on Interior recreational 
lands, during the 2-year period after a natural dis-
aster on such parcel ends, as determined by the Sec-
retary of the Interior, section 46.150 of title 43, 
Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the 
date of the enactment of this Act) shall have the 
force and effect of law with respect to such parcel. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall 
submit to Congress, and make publicly available on the 
website of the Department of the Interior and the Depart-
ment of Agriculture, a report that includes the number 
of covered recreation sites— 
(1) that have been reopened pursuant to sub-
section (a); and 
(2) that, as of the date of such report, are 
closed due to damage caused by a natural disaster 
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and the date such natural disaster ended, as deter-
mined by the Secretary concerned. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED
RECREATION
SITE.—The term 
‘‘covered recreation site’’ means a trail, campground, 
developed day-use recreation site, or road that is— 
(A) located on Interior recreational lands 
or National Forest System lands; and 
(B) operated by the Secretary concerned. 
(2) HAZARD TREE.—The term ‘‘hazard tree’’ 
means a standing tree that presents a visible hazard 
to people or property due to conditions such as the 
deterioration of, or damage to— 
(A) the root system, trunk, stem, or limbs 
of the tree; or 
(B) the direction or lean of the tree. 
(3) INTERIOR
RECREATIONAL
LANDS.—The 
term ‘‘Interior recreational lands’’ means lands man-
aged by the National Park Service, the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of 
Land Management, or the Bureau of Reclamation. 
(4) NATIONAL
FOREST
SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘National Forest System’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Range-
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land Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 
U.S.C. 1609(a)). 
(5) NATURAL DISASTER.—The term ‘‘natural 
disaster’’ includes a wildfire, flood, erosion, and tor-
nado. 
(6) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec-
retary concerned’’ means— 
(A) the Secretary of the Interior, with re-
spect to Interior recreational lands; or 
(B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re-
spect to National Forest System lands. 
Æ 
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