SEC. 2. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION TO IMPROVE OR RE-
STORE NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS OR 
PUBLIC LAND OR REDUCE THE RISK OF 
WILDFIRE. 
(a) CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION ESTABLISHED.—For-
est management activities described in subsection (b) are 
a category of actions hereby designated as being categori-
cally 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). 
(b) FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES DESIGNATED 
FOR CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.— 
(1) DESIGNATION.—The forest management ac-
tivities designated under this section for a categor-
ical exclusion are forest management activities de-
scribed in paragraph (2) that are carried out by the 
Secretary concerned on National Forest System 
Lands or public lands where the primary purpose of 
such activity is to improve or restore such lands or 
reduce the risk of wildfire on such lands. 
(2) ACTIVITIES
AUTHORIZED.—The following 
activities may be carried out pursuant to the cat-
egorical exclusion established under subsection (a): 
(A) Removal of noxious weeds through 
late-season livestock grazing, targeted livestock 
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grazing, prescribed burns, or mechanical treat-
ments. 
(B) Performance of hazardous fuels man-
agement. 
(C) Creation of fuel and fire breaks. 
(D) Modification of existing fences in order 
to distribute livestock and help improve wildlife 
habitat. 
(E) Installation of erosion control devices. 
(F) Construction of new permanent infra-
structure and maintenance of existing perma-
nent infrastructure, including stock ponds, 
water catchments, and water spring boxes used 
to benefit livestock and improve wildlife habitat. 
(G) Performance of soil treatments, native 
and non-native seeding, and planting and trans-
planting of sagebrush, grass, forb, shrub, and 
other species of grass. 
(H) Use of herbicides, so long as the Sec-
retary concerned determines that the activity is 
otherwise conducted consistently with any forest 
plan applicable to the area covered by the activ-
ity. 
(c) AVAILABILITY OF CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION.— 
On and after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
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Secretary concerned may use the categorical exclusion es-
tablished under subsection (a) in accordance with this sec-
tion. 
(d) ACREAGE LIMITATIONS.—A forest management 
activity covered by the categorical exclusion established 
under subsection (a) may not exceed 10,000 acres. 
(e) EXCLUSIONS.—The authorities provided by this 
Act do not apply with respect to any National Forest Sys-
tem lands or public lands— 
(1) that are included in the National Wilderness 
Preservation System; 
(2) that are located within a national or State- 
specific inventoried roadless area established by the 
Secretary of Agriculture through regulation, un-
less— 
(A) the forest management activity to be 
carried out under such authority is consistent 
with the forest plan applicable to the area; or 
(B) the Secretary concerned determines 
the activity is allowed under the applicable 
roadless rule governing such lands; or 
(3) on which timber harvesting for any purpose 
is prohibited by Federal statute. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act— 
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(1) FOREST
MANAGEMENT
ACTIVITY.—The 
term ‘‘forest management activity’’ means a project 
or activity carried out by the Secretary concerned on 
National Forest System lands or public lands con-
sistent with the forest plan covering such lands. 
(2) FOREST
PLAN.—The term ‘‘forest plan’’ 
means— 
(A) a land use plan prepared by the Bu-
reau of Land Management for public lands pur-
suant to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
1712); or 
(B) a land and resource management plan 
prepared by the Forest Service for a unit of the 
National Forest System pursuant to section 6 
of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Re-
sources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 
1604). 
(3) HAZARDOUS
FUELS
MANAGEMENT.—The 
term ‘‘hazardous fuels management’’ means any 
vegetation management activities that reduce the 
risk of wildfire. 
(4) LATE-SEASON GRAZING.—The term ‘‘late- 
season grazing’’ means grazing activities that 
occur— 
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(A) after both the invasive species and na-
tive perennial species have completed their cur-
rent-year annual growth cycle; and 
(B) before new plant growth begins to ap-
pear in the following year. 
(5) NATIONAL
FOREST
SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘National Forest System’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Range-
land Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 
U.S.C. 1609(a)). 
(6) NOXIOUS
WEEDS.—The term ‘‘noxious 
weeds’’ includes juniper trees, medusahead rye, coni-
fer trees, pin˜on pine trees, cheatgrass, and other 
noxious or invasive weeds specified on a Federal or 
State noxious weed list. 
(7) 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), except that the term in-
cludes Coos Bay Wagon Road Grant lands and Or-
egon and California Railroad Grant lands. 
(8) 
TARGETED
LIVESTOCK
GRAZING.—The 
term ‘‘targeted livestock grazing’’ means grazing 
used for purposes of hazardous fuel management. 
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(9) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec-
retary concerned’’ means— 
(A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with re-
spect to National Forest System lands; and 
(B) the Secretary of the Interior, with re-
spect to public lands. 
Æ 
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