Healthy Forests for Hunters Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.4584 | Sponsor: Rep. Stauber, Pete (R-MN)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Healthy Forests for Hunters Act of 2021
This bill establishes categorical exclusions from environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for certain forest management activities relating to early successional forests or outdoor recreation.

To establish a categorical exclusion for certain forest management 
  activities relating to early successional forests and a categorical 
 exclusion for certain activities relating to outdoor recreation, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Healthy Forests for Hunters Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FOR EARLY SUCCESSIONAL FORESTS.

    (a) Categorical Exclusion Established.--Forest management 
activities described in subsection (b) 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).
    (b) Forest Management Activities Designated for Categorical 
Exclusion.--The forest management activities designated under this 
section for a categorical exclusion are forest management activities 
carried out by the Secretary concerned on National Forest System lands 
or public lands where the primary purpose of such activity is, 
consistent with the applicable forest plan, to modify, improve, 
enhance, or create early successional forests for wildlife habitat 
improvement and other purposes.
    (c) Availability of Categorical Exclusion.--On and after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned may use the 
categorical exclusion established under subsection (a) in accordance 
with this section.
    (d) Project Goals.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
Secretary concerned shall design forest management activities described 
in subsection (b)--
            (1) to meet early successional forest goals; and
            (2) to maximize production and regeneration of priority 
        species, as identified in the forest plan and consistent with 
        the capability of the treatment units.
    (e) Acreage Limitations.--A forest management activity covered by 
the categorical exclusion established under subsection (a) may not 
contain treatment units exceeding a total of 10,000 acres.

SEC. 3. CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION.

    (a) Categorical Exclusion Established.--Activities described in 
subsection (b) 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).
    (b) Activities Designated for Categorical Exclusion.--The 
activities designated under this section for a categorical exclusion 
are activities carried out by the Secretary concerned on National 
Forest System lands or public lands where the primary purpose of such 
activity is to--
            (1) issue, amend, replace, or extend the administrative 
        terms of an existing or expired special use authorization, if 
        the holder or applicant of such special use authorization is in 
        full compliance with the terms and conditions of such special 
        use authorization;
            (2) modify, remove, repair, maintain, reconstruct, or 
        replace a facility for an existing special use authorization;
            (3) issue a new special use authorization or amendment to 
        an existing special use authorization for activities that will 
        occur on existing roads, trails, facilities, or areas approved 
        for use in an applicable forest plan or other documented 
        decision;
            (4) approve, modify, or continue special uses of National 
        Forest System lands or public lands for less than 5 years;
            (5) approve, modify, or continue special use authorizations 
        on National Forest System land that require less than 20 acres 
        of contiguous land;
            (6) operate, maintain, modify, construct, reconstruct, 
        improve, decommission, relocate, or dispose of buildings, 
        infrastructure, or other improvements at developed recreation 
        sites;
            (7) remove hazard trees for the purpose of protecting 
        public health or safety or improving access to a recreation 
        site; or
            (8) any combination of the purposes specified in paragraphs 
        (1) through (7).
    (c) Availability of Categorical Exclusion.--On and after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned may use the 
categorical exclusion established under subsection (a) in accordance 
with this section.

SEC. 4. EXCLUSIONS.

    The authorities provided by this Act do not apply with respect to 
any National Forest System 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, unless--
                    (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.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (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 consistent with the forest plan covering such 
        lands.
            (2) Forest plan.--The term ``forest plan'' means--
                    (A) a land use plan prepared by the Bureau of Land 
                Management for public lands pursuant 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 Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 
                U.S.C. 1604).
            (3) National forest system.--The term ``National Forest 
        System'' has the meaning given that term in section 11(a) of 
        the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 
        1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
            (4) 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 includes Coos Bay Wagon Road Grant lands and Oregon 
        and California Railroad Grant lands.
            (5) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to 
                National Forest System lands; and
                    (B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to 
                public lands.
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