Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-6012
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
Introduced: 2023-10-20
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Electric power generation and transmission

Fires

Forests, forestry, trees

Licensing and registrations
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-915, Part I.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6012 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 20, 2023 Mr. Carbajal (for himself, Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer , Mr. Costa , and Mr. Valadao ) introduced the following bill October 25, 2023 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 authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to permit removal of trees around electrical lines on National Forest System land without conducting a timber sale, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2023 . 2. Permits and agreements with electrical utilities (a) In general In any special use permit or easement on National Forest System land provided to an electrical utility, the Secretary of Agriculture may provide permission to cut and remove trees or other vegetation from within the vicinity of distribution lines or transmission lines without requiring a separate timber sale, if that cutting and removal is consistent with— (1) the applicable land and resource management plan; and (2) other applicable environmental laws (including regulations). (b) Use of proceeds A special use permit or easement that includes permission for cutting and removal described in subsection (a) shall include a requirement that, if the applicable electrical utility sells any portion of the material removed under the permit or easement, the electrical utility shall provide to the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, any proceeds received from the sale, less any transportation costs incurred in the sale. (c) Effect Nothing in subsection (b) shall require the sale of any material removed under a permit or easement that includes permission for cutting and removal described in subsection (a).