Healthy Forest Management and Wildfire Prevention Act

Bill: 113-hr-818
Sponsor: Rep. Tipton, Scott  R. [R-CO-3]
Introduced: 2013-02-25 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Ecology
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Fires
Forests, forestry, trees
Insects
Intergovernmental relations
Judicial review and appeals
Land use and conservation
Natural disasters
Pest management
Public contracts and procurement
Rural conditions and development
State and local government operations
Water quality
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: 
 Healthy Forest Management and Wildfire Prevention Act - Declares that the bark beetle epidemic, drought, and deteriorating forest health conditions on National Forest System land and public lands, with the resulting imminent risk of devastating wildfires, is an imminent threat within the meaning of roadless area management regulations applicable to a state. 
 
Allows a state governor or the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), with respect the National Forest System, or of the Interior, with respect to public lands, to designate high-risk areas of the national forests and public lands in the state for purposes of addressing: (1) deteriorating forest health conditions due to the bark beetle epidemic or drought, with the resulting imminent risk of devastating wildfires; and (2) the future risk of insect infestations or disease outbreaks through preventative treatments to improve forest health conditions. Excludes wilderness areas and national monuments from designation as high-risk areas. Establishes a 20-year period for such high-risk area designation. 
 
Allows a governor or the Secretary, upon designation of a high-risk area, to provide for the development of proposed emergency hazardous fuels reduction projects for the area. Applies the administrative and judicial review processes of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, with modifications, to such projects. 
Authorizes the Secretary concerned to enter into cooperative agreements and contracts with state foresters to provide forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration and protection services that include: (1) activities to treat insect infected trees; (2) activities to reduce hazardous fuels; and (3) any other activities to restore or improve forest, rangeland, and watershed health, including fish and wildlife habitat. 
 
Permits state foresters to enter into subcontracts to provide such restoration and protection services.
 
Amends the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 to extend the authority to enter, and the duration of, contracts to perform services to achieve land management goals for national forests that meet local and rural community needs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2013-03-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry.
action_date: 2013-03-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation.
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-02-25
text: Introduced in House