Proven Forest Management Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.4231 | Sponsor: Rep. McClintock, Tom (R-CA)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Proven Forest Management Act of 2021
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA), when conducting a forest management activity on National Forest System land, to coordinate with impacted parties to increase efficiency and maximize the compatibility of management practices across such land.
USDA shall conduct such an activity on National Forest System land in a manner that attains multiple ecosystem benefits, including reducing forest fuels and maintaining biological diversity. However, a forest management activity shall not be conducted if the costs associated with attaining such benefits are excessive.
Additionally, the USDA shall (1) establish any post-program ground condition criteria for a ground disturbance caused by a forest management activity required by the applicable forest plan, and (2) provide for monitoring to ascertain the attainment of relevant post-program conditions.
The bill categorically excludes certain forest management activities for reducing forest fuels from certain environmental impact requirements.
USDA or the Department of the Interior, as appropriate, in conjunction with land adjustment programs, may enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with a qualified entity to provide for fuel reduction, erosion control, reforestation, Stream Environment Zone restoration, and similar management activities on federal lands and nonfederal lands within such programs.

To direct the Secretary concerned to coordinate with impacted parties 
 when conducting a forest management activity, 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 ``Proven Forest Management Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LAND.

    (a) Coordination.--In conducting a forest management activity on 
National Forest System land, the Secretary concerned shall, as 
appropriate, coordinate with impacted parties to increase efficiency 
and maximize the compatibility of management practices across National 
Forest System land.
    (b) Forest Management Activities.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), in 
        conducting a forest management activity on National Forest 
        System land, the Secretary concerned shall conduct such 
        activity in a manner that attains multiple ecosystem benefits, 
        including--
                    (A) reducing forest fuels;
                    (B) maintaining biological diversity;
                    (C) improving wetland and water quality, including 
                in Stream Environment Zones; and
                    (D) increasing resilience to changing water 
                temperature and precipitation.
            (2) Exception for cost.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply if 
        the Secretary concerned determines that the costs associated 
        with attaining multiple ecosystem benefits are excessive.
    (c) Ground Disturbance.--Consistent with applicable Federal law and 
the forest plan developed for the relevant National Forest System land, 
the Secretary concerned shall--
            (1) establish any post-program ground condition criteria 
        for a ground disturbance caused by a forest management activity 
        required by such plan; and
            (2) provide for monitoring to ascertain the attainment of 
        relevant post-program conditions.
    (d) Availability of Categorical Exclusion for Certain Forest 
Management Activities.--A forest management activity conducted on 
National Forest System land for the purpose of reducing forest fuels is 
categorically excluded from the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) if the forest 
management activity--
            (1) notwithstanding section 423 of the Department of the 
        Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 
        2009 (division E of Public Law 111-8; 123 Stat. 748), does not 
        exceed 10,000 acres, including not more than 3,000 acres of 
        mechanical thinning;
            (2) is developed--
                    (A) in coordination with impacted parties, 
                specifically including representatives of local 
                governments, such as county supervisors or county 
                commissioners; and
                    (B) in consultation with other interested entities; 
                and
            (3) is consistent with the forest plan developed for the 
        relevant National Forest System land.
    (e) Cooperative Authorities.--The Secretary concerned, in 
conjunction with land adjustment programs, may enter into contracts and 
cooperative agreements with a qualified entity to provide for fuel 
reduction, erosion control, reforestation, Stream Environment Zone 
restoration, and similar management activities on Federal land and non-
Federal land within the programs.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Interested entities.--The term ``interested entities'' 
        includes--
                    (A) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration;
                    (B) State, local, and Tribal governments;
                    (C) local fire departments; and
                    (D) other relevant volunteer groups.
            (2) Forest management activity.--The term ``forest 
        management activity'' means a project or activity carried out 
        by the Secretary concerned on National Forest System land and 
        consistent with the forest plan covering such land.
            (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 land; and
                    (B) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to 
                public lands.
            (6) Stream environment zone.--The term ``Stream Environment 
        Zone'' means an area that generally owes the biological and 
        physical characteristics of the area to the presence of surface 
        water or groundwater.
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