S.Amdt. 3592

1. Adds SEC. 4. EMERGENCY FUEL REDUCTION on page 13, line 3

   Adds a sectionPrinted page

   Inserted: SEC. 4. EMERGENCY FUEL REDUCTION.

   Inserted: (a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--

   Inserted: (1) to expedite wildfire prevention projects to reduce the chances of wildfire on certain high-risk Federal land adjacent to communities, private property, and critical infrastructure;

   Inserted: (2) to improve forest and wildland health; and

   Inserted: (3) to promote the recovery of threatened and endangered species, or other species under consideration for listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), including sage-grouse, whose habitat is negatively impacted by wildland fire.

   Inserted: (b) Expedited Review of Projects on Federal Land.--Section 104 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6514) is amended--

   Inserted: (1) by redesignating subsections (e) through (h) as subsections (f) through (i), respectively;

   Inserted: (2) in subsection (c)(1)(C)(i), by striking "subsection (f)" and inserting "subsection (g)"; and

   Inserted: (3) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:

   Inserted: "(e) Categorical Exclusion of Certain Projects.--

   Inserted: "(1) Definition of adjacent federal land.--In this subsection, the term 'adjacent Federal land' means an area of Federal land--

   Inserted: "(A) that, while not located in the wildland-urban interface, is located within not more than 5 miles of non-Federal land; and

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   Inserted: "(B) on which the Secretary determines that conditions, such as the risk of wildfire, an insect or disease epidemic, or the presence of invasive species, pose a risk to the adjacent non-Federal land.

   Inserted: "(2) Categorical exclusion of certain projects.--

   Inserted: "(A) In general.--An authorized hazardous fuel reduction project shall be categorically excluded from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) if the project--

   Inserted: "(i) involves the removal of insect-infected trees, dead or dying trees, trees presenting a threat to public safety or electrical reliability, or the removal of other hazardous fuels within 500 feet of utility or communications infrastructure, a municipal water supply system, campground, roadside, heritage site, recreation site, school, or other infrastructure;

   Inserted: "(ii) is intended to treat 10,000 acres or less of public land or National Forest System land that--

   Inserted: "(I) contains threatened and endangered species habitat; or

   Inserted: "(II) provides conservation benefits to species that are not listed as endangered or threatened under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533) but are a State- listed species, a special concern species, or candidates for a listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.);

   Inserted: "(iii) is proposed to be conducted on adjacent Federal land or is recommended in a community wildfire protection plan if--

   Inserted: "(I) the Secretary determines that the project is consistent with the applicable resource management plan; and

   Inserted: "(II) 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 (or a successor regulation).

   Inserted: "(B) Consultation.--In determining whether an area contains trees or other hazardous fuels described in clause (i), the Secretary shall consult with any utility or other entity that manages the area.

   Inserted: "(C) Priority for certain projects.--In providing categorical exclusions under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall give priority to authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects and other projects recommended in a community wildfire protection plan.

   Inserted: "(D) Exclusions.--National Forest System land or public land eligible for treatment under this subsection shall not include land--

   Inserted: "(i) that is a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System;

   Inserted: "(ii) on which the removal of vegetation is specifically prohibited by Federal law; or

   Inserted: "(iii) that is within a National Monument as of the date of the enactment of the Bring Jobs Home Act.".

   Original wording

   On page 13, after line 3, add the following:

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As printed