Detailed Instructions: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Colorado Forest Insect Emergency
Response Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. RESPONSE TO SEVERE INFESTATIONS OF BARK BEETLES AND OTHER
INSECTS ON FEDERAL LAND IN COLORADO.

(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) Fire and bark beetles and other insects that feed on
trees are natural parts of Colorado's forest ecology that have
some beneficial effects and help shape the forests by thinning
dense tree stands and promoting cyclical re-growth.
(2) However, in various parts of Colorado, large-scale
infestations of bark beetles and other insects, in combination
with other factors, have increased the likelihood of unusually
severe wildfires that pose a threat to lives and property in
nearby communities and to municipal water supplies and other
infrastructure.
(3) The Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law
108-148; 16 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) was enacted to address the
need to reduce the volume of fuel that can feed the most severe
wildfires that threaten communities.
(4) The modification of some provisions of the Healthy
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 will help to further expedite
action to reduce the risks of severe wildfires to Colorado
communities, water supplies, and infrastructure in or near
forested areas most severely affected by infestations of bark
beetles and other insects.
(b) Insect-Emergency Area Defined.--Section 101 of the Healthy
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (12) through (16) as
paragraphs (13) through (17), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (11) the following new
paragraph:
''(12) Insect-emergency area.--The term 'insect-emergency
area' means an area of Federal land in Colorado designated by
the Secretary pursuant to section 107.''.
(c) Alternative Analysis Process.--Section 104(d)(2) of the Healthy
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6514(d)(2)) is amended by
inserting after ''at-risk community'' the following: ''or on any other
lands identified for such a project in a community wildfire protection
plan for an at-risk community in or adjacent to an insect-emergency
area''.
(d) Response to Insect Emergencies.--Title I of the Healthy Forests
Restoration Act of 2003 is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 107 and 108 as sections 108
and 109, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 106 (16 U.S.C. 6516) the
following new section:

''SEC. 107. COLORADO INSECT-EMERGENCY AREAS.

''(a) Designation of Insect-Emergency Areas.--
''(1) Designation authority.--The Secretary may designate
an area of Federal land in Colorado as an insect-emergency area
if--
''(A) the Secretary determines that the area is
subject to a widespread infestation of bark beetles or
other insects;
''(B) the Secretary determines that the area is
characterized by insect-induced tree mortality that
has, or within one year of the determination will have,
produced a condition such that an immediate reduction
in hazardous fuels is required in order to reduce the
risks to human life and property or to a municipal
water supply from a severe wildfire; and
''(C) the area is identified for hazardous fuel
reduction treatment in a community wildfire protection
plan.
''(2) Criteria.--The determinations required by
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) shall be made on the
basis of the best information available, including observation
of relevant insect infestations.
''(3) Limitation on delegation.--In the case of National
Forest System lands, the authority to designate an insect-
emergency area may be delegated only to a Regional Forester.
''(b) Initiation of Designation Process.--
''(1) Initiation.--The designation of an insect-emergency
area may be made on the initiative of the Secretary or in
response to a request by any agency of the State of Colorado or
a political subdivision thereof.
''(2) Deadline.--If a request for designation is initiated
by the State or a political subdivision thereof, the Secretary
shall issue a decision regarding the request not later than 90
days after receipt of the request.
''(c) Consultation and Public Comment.--Before making the
determinations required by subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1)
of subsection (a) with respect to an area, the Secretary shall--
''(1) consult with any Federal agency responsible for
management of lands within a relevant community wildfire
protection plan and appropriate State and local officials; and
''(2) provide public notice and seek public comments on the
possible determinations.
''(d) Review of Designation.--Any administrative or judicial review
of the decision of the Secretary to designate an insect-emergency area
shall be subject to regulations issued pursuant to section 105 and to
the provisions of section 106.
''(e) Authorized Hazardous Fuel Reduction Projects in Designated
Areas.--An authorized hazardous fuel reduction project involving only
lands within an insect-emergency area may be categorically excluded
from documentation in an environmental impact statement and
environmental assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) if--
''(1) the project involves only lands that are identified
for hazardous-fuel reduction treatment in a community wildfire
protection plan; and
''(2) the decision to categorically exclude the project is
made in accordance with applicable extraordinary circumstances
procedures established pursuant to section 1508.4 of title 40,
Code of Federal Regulations.''.
A:
Colorado Forest Insect Emergency Response Act of 2008 - Amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior to designate an area of federal land in Colorado as an insect-emergency area if the area is: (1) subject to a widespread infestation of bark beetles or other insects; (2) characterized by insect-induced tree mortality that has, or within one year of the determination will have, produced a condition such that an immediate reduction in hazardous fuels is required in order to reduce the risks to human life and property or to a municipal water supply from a severe wildfire; and (3) identified for hazardous fuel reduction treatment in a community wildfire protection plan.