FORESTS Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-4228
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5]
Introduced: 2023-06-20
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Education programs funding

Elementary and secondary education

Endangered and threatened species

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Forests, forestry, trees

Public contracts and procurement

Roads and highways

State and local finance
Latest action: action_date: 2023-09-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4228 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 20, 2023 Mrs. Rodgers of Washington introduced the following bill; which was 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 A BILL To restore employment and educational opportunities in, and improve the economic stability of, counties containing National Forest System land, while also reducing Forest Service management costs, by ensuring that such counties have a dependable source of revenue from timber sales conducted on National Forest System land, to reduce payments under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to reflect such counties' receipt of timber sale revenues, to strengthen stewardship end result contracting, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Fostering Opportunities for Resources and Education Spending through Timber Sales Act of 2023 or the FORESTS Act of 2023 . (b) Table of contents The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Purposes. Title I—Forest Active Management Areas Sec. 101. Definitions. Sec. 102. Establishment of Forest Active Management Areas and annual volume requirements. Sec. 103. Management of Forest Active Management Areas. Sec. 104. Environmental analysis process for covered active management projects. Sec. 105. Expedited compliance with Endangered Species Act. Sec. 106. Administrative review. Sec. 107. Use of arbitration instead of litigation to address challenge to covered active management project developed through collaborative process. Sec. 108. Distribution of forest active management revenues. Sec. 109. Annual report. Title II—Transition of Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 and 25-percent payments Sec. 201. Prohibition on State retention of portion of 25-percent payments made on behalf of beneficiary counties. Title III—Stewardship end result contracting authority Sec. 301. Maximum authorized duration of stewardship end result contracts. Sec. 302. Payment of portion of stewardship project revenues to county in which stewardship project occurs. Sec. 303. Use of contractors to perform environmental analysis in connection with stewardship end result contracting projects. Title IV—Other Matters Sec. 401. Treatment as supplemental funding. Sec. 402. Definition of fire suppression to include certain related activities. Sec. 403. Prohibition on certain actions regarding Forest Service roads and trails. 2. Purposes The purposes of this Act are as follows: (1) To restore employment and educational opportunities in, and improve the economic stability of, counties containing National Forest System land. (2) To ensure that such counties have a dependable source of revenue from National Forest System land. (3) To reduce Forest Service management costs while also ensuring the protection of United States forest resources. (4) To reduce the frequency and severity of catastrophic wildfires on Federal lands. I Forest Active Management Areas 101. Definitions In this title: (1) Annual volume requirement (A) In general The term annual volume requirement , with respect to a Forest Active Management Area, means, the annual volume of national forest materials from such Forest Active Management Area that, subject to an adjustment pursuant to section 102(e)(2), is equal to or greater than— (i) the allowable sale quantity established in the applicable forest plan for such Area, (ii) divided by 10. (B) Exclusions In determining the volume of national forest materials or the sustained yield of a Forest Active Management Area, the Secretary may not include non-commercial post and pole sales and personal use firewood. (2) Beneficiary county The term beneficiary county means a political subdivision of a State that, on account of containing National Forest System land, was eligible to receive payments for any of the fiscal years 2001 through 2015 through the State under title I of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 ( 16 U.S.C. 7111 et seq. ). (3) Collaborative process The term collaborative process refers to a planning, decisionmaking, and management process that, as determined by the forest manager of the unit of the National Forest System for which the process will occur and as confirmed by the Regional Forester— (A) includes multiple interested persons representing diverse interests; and (B) is transparent and nonexclusive or meets the requirements for a resource advisory committee under subsections (c) through (f) of section 205 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 ( 16 U.S.C. 7125 ). (4) Covered active management project The terms covered active management project and covered project mean a project involving the management or sale of national forest materials within a Forest Active Management Area to generate forest active management revenues and achieve the annual volume requirement for the Forest Active Management Area. (5) Forest Active Management area (A) In general The term Forest Active Management Area means National Forest System land in a unit of the National Forest System that has been identified in the 5-year period preceding the date of such identification as being overstocked based off of basal area or at risk of wildfire and suitable for timber production. (B) Exclusions A Forest Active Management Area may not include National Forest System land— (i) that is a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System; (ii) on which the removal of vegetation is specifically prohibited by Federal statute; or (iii) that is included within a National Monument as of the date of the enactment of this Act. (6) Forest active management revenues The term forest active management revenues means revenues derived from the sale of national forest materials in a Forest Active Management Area. (7) National forest materials The term national forest materials has the meaning given that term in section 14(e)(1) of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 ( 16 U.S.C. 472a(e)(1) ). (8) 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) ), except that the term does not include the National Grasslands and land utilization projects designated as National Grasslands administered pursuant to the Act of July 22, 1937 ( 7 U.S.C. 1010–1012 ). (9) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture. (10) Sustained yield The term sustained yield means the maximum annual growth potential of a forest calculated on the basis of the culmination of mean annual increment using cubic measurement. (11) State The term State includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (12) 25-percent payment The term 25-percent payment means the payment to States required by the sixth paragraph under the heading of FOREST SERVICE in the Act of May 23, 1908 (35 Stat. 260; 16 U.S.C. 500 ), and section 13 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (36 Stat. 963; 16 U.S.C. 500 ). 102. Establishment of Forest Active Management Areas and annual volume requirements (a) Establishment of Forest Active Management Areas Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall establish one or more Forest Active Management Areas within each unit of the National Forest System. (b) Deadline for establishment The Secretary shall complete the establishment of Forest Active Management Areas not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Purpose The purpose of a Forest Active Management Area is to provide a dependable source of 25-percent payments and economic activity through sustainable forest management for each beneficiary county containing National Forest System land included within that Forest Active Management Area. (d) Fiduciary responsibility The Secretary shall have a fiduciary responsibility to beneficiary counties to manage a Forest Active Management Area to satisfy the annual volume requirement established for that Forest Active Management Area. (e) Annual volume requirement (1) Deadline for establishment Not later than 30 days after the date of the establishment of a Forest Active Management Area, the Secretary shall establish the annual volume requirement for that Forest Active Management Area. (2) Collaborative adjustment authority (A) In general The Secretary shall make publicly available the annual volume requirement for a Forest Active Management Area. (B) Petition for adjustment Not later than 30 days after an annual volume requirement for a Forest Management Area is made publicly available under subparagraph (A), a forest management collaborative located in the same Forest Service region as the Forest Active Management Area may petition the Secretary to adjust such annual volume requirement. (C) Determination In the case of a petition under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall make a determination on such petition not later than 60 days after receiving such petition. (f) Size of forest Active Management area (1) Minimum size Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Forest Active Management Areas established within a unit of the National Forest System shall include not less than 50 percent of the National Forest System lands in that unit identified as commercial forest land capable of producing twenty cubic feet of timber per acre. (2) Reduction prohibited Except as provided in paragraph (3), once a Forest Active Management Area is established, the Secretary may not reduce the number of acres of National Forest System land included in that Forest Active Management Area. (3) Collaborative adjustment authority The Secretary may reduce the number of acres of National Forest System land included in a Forest Active Management Area, including an acreage reduction resulting in the inclusion of a quantity of commercial forest land below the percentage required by paragraph (1) and section 101(5)(B), if the reduction is developed and agreed upon through a collaborative process. (g) Map The Secretary shall submit a map of all Forest Active Management Areas established under subsection (a) and a map of any Forest Active Management Area whose acreage is adjusted made pursuant to subsection (f)(3)— (1) to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and (2) to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. (h) Recognition of Valid and Existing Rights Neither the establishment of Forest Active Management Areas under subsection (a) nor any other provision of this title shall be construed to limit or restrict— (1) access to National Forest System land for hunting, fishing, recreation, and other related purposes; or (2) valid and existing rights regarding National Forest System land, including rights of any federally recognized Indian tribe. 103. Management of Forest Active Management Areas (a) Requirement To achieve annual volume requirement Immediately upon the establishment of a Forest Active Management Area, the Secretary shall manage the Forest Active Management Area in the manner necessary to achieve the annual volume requirement for the Forest Active Management Area. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall commence covered active management projects to begin generating forest active management revenues. (b) Standards for projects within forest Active Management areas The Secretary shall conduct covered active management projects within Forest Active Management Areas in accordance with this section and sections 104 and 105, which shall serve as the sole means by which the Secretary will comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4331 et seq. ) and other laws applicable to the covered projects. (c) Use of collaborative process The Secretary is authorized and encouraged to develop covered active management projects for a Forest Active Management Area through a collaborative process. The decision notice for a covered active management project shall describe the collaborative process by which the project was developed, including a description of— (1) participation by or consultation with State, local, and tribal governments; and (2) any established record of successful collaborative planning and implementation of forest management projects by the collaborators. (d) Use of contractors To perform environmental analysis (1) In general As part of a covered active management project, or as a separate agreement or contract in connection with one or more covered active management projects, the Secretary may procure the services of persons who are not Federal employees to perform activities necessary to ensure project for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4331 et seq. ) and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ). (2) Approval requirement Services performed under this subsection are subject to approval by the Chief of the Forest Service or other responsible official of the Forest Service. (3) Funding source As provided in section 108(c)(2), the Secretary shall use forest active management revenues to cover the cost of services procured under this subsection. (e) Application of land and resource management plan (1) Modification authority The Secretary may modify the standards and guidelines contained in the land and resource management plan for the unit of the National Forest System in which the covered active management project will be carried out as necessary to achieve the requirements of this Act. (2) Harvesting system Section 6(g)(3)(E)(iv) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 ( 16 U.S.C. 1604(g)(3)(E)(iv) ) shall not apply to a covered active management project. (f) Use of all-Terrain vehicles for management activities The Secretary may allow the use of all-terrain vehicles within the Forest Active Management Areas for the purpose of activities associated with the sale of national forest materials in a Forest Active Management Area. 104. Environmental analysis process for covered active management projects (a) Environmental Assessment Except in the case of a covered active management project for which a categorical exclusion is available under subsection (e) or a Forest Active Management Area for which a programmatic environmental impact statement is in effect under subsection (f), the Secretary shall— (1) publish advance notice of each covered active management project proposed to be conducted within a Forest Active Management Area; and (2) complete an environmental assessment pursuant to section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4332(2) ) for the proposed covered active management project. (b) No alternative version The Secretary is not required to study, develop, or describe any alternative to the proposed agency action. (c) Cumulative effects The Secretary shall consider cumulative effects solely by evaluating the impacts of a proposed covered active management project combined with the impacts of any other projects that were approved with a Decision Notice or Record of Decision before the date on which the Secretary published notice of the proposed covered project. The cumulative effects of past projects may be considered in the environmental assessment by using a description of the current environmental conditions. (d) Treatment of decision notice The decision notice for a covered active management project shall be considered a final agency action and no additional analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4331 et seq. ) shall be required to implement any portion of the covered project. (e) Applicability of NEPA The designation and management of a Forest Active Management Area under this Act shall not be subject to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4331 et seq. ). 105. Expedited compliance with Endangered Species Act (a) Non-Jeopardy assessment If the Secretary makes a determination that a proposed covered active management project is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any species listed as endangered or threatened under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1533 ), the Secretary shall— (1) prepare an explanation of the basis for the determination; and (2) submit the determination and explanation to the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate. (b) Review and response (1) In general Within 30 days after receiving a determination made by the Secretary under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as appropriate, shall provide a written response to the Secretary concurring in or rejecting the Secretary’s determination. (2) Effect of rejection If the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce rejects the determination made by the Secretary under subsection (a), the written response of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce under paragraph (1) shall include recommendations for measures that— (A) will avoid the likelihood of jeopardy to an endangered or threatened species; (B) can be implemented in a manner consistent with the intended purpose of the covered active management project; (C) can be implemented consistent with the scope of the Secretary’s legal authority and jurisdiction; and (D) are economically and technologically feasible. (c) Formal consultation In addition to recommendations made under subsection (b)(2) when the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce rejects a determination issued by the Secretary under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Commerce, as the case may be, shall engage in formal consultation with the Secretary pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1536 ). The Secretaries shall complete such consultation within 90 days after the submission of the written response under subsection (b). 106. Administrative review Administrative review of a covered active management project shall occur only in accordance with the special administrative review process and requirements established under section 105 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6515 ), including the project-level predecisional administrative review process established in part 218 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations. 107. Use of arbitration instead of litigation to address challenge to covered active management project developed through collaborative process (a) Arbitration process (1) In general In the case of a covered active management project that was developed through a collaborative process, any challenge to the covered project made after the special administrative review process required by section 106 shall be addressed using arbitration consistent with this section instead of through judicial review. (2) Who may seek Any person who sought administrative review for the covered project described in paragraph (1) and who is not satisfied with the decision made under the administrative review process may file a demand for arbitration regarding the covered project in accordance with chapter 1 of title 9, United States Code. (b) Requirements for demand The demand for arbitration under subsection (a)(2) shall— (1) be filed not more than 30 days after the date on which the administrative review decision was issued; and (2) include a proposal describing the modifications sought to the covered project. (c) Intervening parties (1) Requirements Any person that submitted a public comment on the covered active management project subject to arbitration may intervene in the arbitration— (A) by endorsing the covered project or the modification proposal submitted under subsection (b)(2); or (B) by submitting a proposal to further modify the covered project. (2) Deadline for submission A request to intervene in an arbitration must be submitted not later than the date that is 30 days after the date on which the demand for arbitration was filed. (3) Multiple parties Multiple objectors or intervening parties may submit a joint proposal so long as each objector or intervening party meets the eligibility requirements of subsection (a)(2) or paragraph (1), whichever applies. (d) Appointment of arbitrator The United States District Court in the district in which the covered active management project is located shall appoint the arbitrator to conduct the arbitration proceedings in accordance with this section and chapter 1 of title 9, United States Code. (e) Selection of proposals (1) In general The arbitrator appointed under subsection (d)— (A) may not modify any of the proposals submitted with the demand for arbitration or a request to intervene; and (B) shall select to be conducted— (i) a proposal submitted by an objector or an intervening party; or (ii) the covered active management project, as approved by the Secretary. (2) Selection criteria An arbitrator shall select the proposal that best meets the purpose and needs described in the environmental analysis conducted for the covered project. (f) Effect of decision The decision of an arbitrator with respect to the covered active management project— (1) shall not be considered a major Federal action; (2) shall be binding; and (3) shall not be subject to judicial review. (g) Deadline for completion Not later than 90 days after the date on which the demand for arbitration is filed with respect to the covered active management project, the arbitration process shall be completed. 108. Distribution of forest active management revenues (a) Use To make 25-Percent Payments The Secretary shall use forest active management revenues generated by covered active management projects to make 25-percent payments to States for payment to beneficiary counties. (b) Relation to payments under Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 Subject to the offset required by subsection (f) of section 102 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 ( 16 U.S.C. 7112 ), a beneficiary county may receive both— (1) a share of the 25-percent payments made to a State under subsection (a); and (2) a share of the payment for the State (known as the State payment) calculated under section 101(a) of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 ( 16 U.S.C. 7111(a) ) for which the beneficiary county made an election (or was deemed to make an election) under section 102(b)(1) of such Act ( 16 U.S.C. 7112(b)(1) ). (c) Other uses of revenues After compliance with subsection (a), the Secretary shall use forest active management revenues— (1) to make deposits into the fund established under section 3 of the Act of June 9, 1930 ( 16 U.S.C. 576b ; commonly known as the Knutson-Vandenberg Fund), and the fund established under section 14(h) of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 ( 16 U.S.C. 472a(h) ; commonly known as the salvage sale fund) in contributions equal to the monies otherwise collected under those Acts for projects conducted on National Forest System land; and (2) to cover the cost of project services procured under section 103(d). (d) Deposit in general fund of the Treasury After compliance with subsections (a) and (c), the Secretary shall deposit remaining forest active management revenues into the general fund of the Treasury. 109. Annual report (a) Report required Not later than 60 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report specifying the following: (1) The annual volume requirement in effect for that fiscal year for each Forest Active Management Area. (2) The volume of board feet actually harvested for each Forest Active Management Area during that fiscal year. (3) The average cost of preparation for timber sales for each Forest Active Management Area during that fiscal year. (4) The forest active management revenues generated from such sales. (5) The total amount of 25-percent payments made to States under section 108(a) during that fiscal year for the benefit of beneficiary counties and the amount of forest active management revenues distributed to each beneficiary county. (b) Form of report The information required by subsection (a) to be provided with respect to a Forest Active Management Area shall be presented on a single page. (c) Public availability The Secretary shall make each annual report available on the website of the Forest Service. II Transition of Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 and 25-percent payments 201. Prohibition on State retention of portion of 25-percent payments made on behalf of beneficiary counties (a) Amendment of Act of may 23, 1908 The sixth paragraph under the heading FOREST SERVICE in the Act of May 23, 1908 ( 16 U.S.C. 500 ), is amended in the first sentence by striking situated: Provided, That when and inserting the following: situated. Beginning on the date of the enactment of the FORESTS Act of 2023 , the State or Territorial legislature may not withhold any of the amount paid under this paragraph from distribution to the county or counties in which the national forest is situated. When . (b) Conforming amendment to weeks law Section 13 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (commonly known as the Weeks Law; 16 U.S.C. 500 ), is amended in the first sentence by striking situated: Provided, That when and inserting the following: situated. Beginning on the date of the enactment of the FORESTS Act of 2023 , the State legislature may not withhold any of the amount paid under this section from distribution to the county or counties in which such national forest is situated. When . III Stewardship end result contracting authority 301. Maximum authorized duration of stewardship end result contracts Section 604(d)(3)(B) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6591c(d)(3)(B) ) is amended by striking 10 years and inserting 20 years . 302. Payment of portion of stewardship project revenues to county in which stewardship project occurs Section 604(e) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6591c(e) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) Payment of portion of stewardship project revenues to counties Of the monies retained under paragraph (2) from an agreement or contract under subsection (b), the Chief or the Director, as the case may be, shall pay 25 percent of the retained monies to the county or counties in which the project site is situated. . 303. Use of contractors to perform environmental analysis in connection with stewardship end result contracting projects Section 604(b) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6591c(b) ) is amended— (1) by striking The Chief and inserting the following: (1) Project authority The Chief ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2) Related project preparation authority (A) In general As part of an agreement or contract under paragraph (1) for a stewardship contracting project, or as a separate agreement or contract in connection with one or more stewardship contracting projects, the Chief or Director may procure the services of persons who are not Federal employees to perform activities necessary to ensure project for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4331 et seq. ) and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ). (B) Approval requirement Services performed under this paragraph are subject to approval by the Chief, Director, or other responsible official of the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management. (C) Funding sources The offset authority provided by subsection (d)(4)(A) and receipts available for expenditure under subsection (e)(2)(B) may be used to cover the cost of services procured under this paragraph. . IV Other Matters 401. Treatment as supplemental funding None of the funds made available to a beneficiary county (as defined in section 101(2) of this Act) or other political subdivision of a State under this Act shall be used in lieu of or to otherwise offset State funding sources for local schools, facilities, or educational purposes. 402. Definition of fire suppression to include certain related activities For purposes of utilizing amounts made available to the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior for fire suppression activities, including funds made available from the FLAME Fund, the term fire suppression includes reforestation, site rehabilitation, salvage operations, and replanting occurring following fire damage on lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned or following fire suppression efforts on such lands by the Secretary concerned. 403. Prohibition on certain actions regarding Forest Service roads and trails The Forest Service shall not remove or otherwise eliminate or obliterate any legally created road or trail unless there has been a specific decision, which included adequate and appropriate public involvement, to decommission the specific road or trail in question. The fact that any road or trail is not a Forest System road or trail, or does not appear on a Motor Vehicle Use Map, shall not constitute a decision.