H.R. 1483 – Litigation Relief for Forest Management Projects Act

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 1:33 PM UTC

The Litigation Relief for Forest Management Projects Act changes existing forest and land‑use laws so that the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management are not required to conduct additional consultations after a land management or land‑use plan has been approved. By limiting the need for further reviews—especially when a species is listed as threatened or endangered or critical habitat is designated—the bill aims to reduce the amount of litigation that can arise from those projects.

Key Provisions

Amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act to state that once a land management plan is approved, no further consultation is required for species listings or critical‑habitat designations that occur after that approval, though other inter‑agency consultations for projects in critical habitat or major plan changes remain required.
Updates the definition of “Secretary” in the Act to simply refer to the Secretary (of Agriculture) and makes corresponding wording changes throughout the statute.
Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act in a similar way, adding language that no additional consultation is needed after a land‑use plan is approved, and defines “significant change” for the purposes of any required consultation.
Specifies that the new provisions do not affect any other mandatory consultations with other federal agencies for projects affecting listed species or critical habitat, or for significant plan revisions.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee

March 23, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 9, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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.

Natural Resources Committee

March 9, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

Federal Lands Subcommittee

March 20, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee

March 23, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 9, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1483

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 9, 2017

Mr. Simpson (for himself and Mr. Peterson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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 amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to discourage litigation against the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management relating to land management projects.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Litigation Relief for Forest Management Projects Act.

2.

Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974

(a)

Consultation regarding land management plans

Section 6(d) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604(d)) is amended—

(1)

by striking (d) The Secretary and inserting the following:

(d)

Public participation and consultation

(1)

In general

The Secretary

; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

No additional consultation required after approval of land management plans

(A)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not be required to engage in consultation under this subsection or any other provision of law (including section 7 of Public Law 93–205 (16 U.S.C. 1536) and section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) with respect to—

(i)

the listing of a species as threatened or endangered, or a designation of critical habitat pursuant to Public Law 93–205 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), if a land management plan has been adopted by the Secretary as of the date of listing or designation; or

(ii)

any provision of a land management plan adopted as described in clause (i).

(B)

Effect of paragraph

Nothing in this paragraph affects any applicable requirement of the Secretary to consult with the head of any other Federal department or agency—

(i)

regarding any project to implement a land management plan, including a project carried out, or proposed to be carried out, in an area designated as critical habitat pursuant to Public Law 93–205 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or

(ii)

with respect to the development of a modification to a land management plan that would result in a significant change (within the meaning of subsection (f)(4)) in the land management plan.

.

(b)

Definition of Secretary; conforming amendments

(1)

Definition of Secretary

Section 3(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601(a)) is amended, in the first sentence of the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting (referred to in this Act as the Secretary) after Secretary of Agriculture.

(2)

Conforming amendments

The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.) is amended, in sections 4 through 9, 12, 13, and 15, by striking Secretary of Agriculture each place it appears and inserting Secretary.

3.

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976

Section 202(f) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712(f)) is amended—

(1)

by striking (f) The Secretary and inserting the following:

(f)

Public involvement

(1)

In general

The Secretary

; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

No additional consultation required after approval of land use plans

(A)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not be required to engage in consultation under this subsection or any other provision of law (including section 7 of Public Law 93–205 (16 U.S.C. 1536) and section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)), with respect to—

(i)

the listing of a species as threatened or endangered, or a designation of critical habitat, pursuant to Public Law 93–205 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), if a land use plan has been adopted by the Secretary as of the date of listing or designation; or

(ii)

any provision of a land use plan adopted as described in clause (i).

(B)

Effect of paragraph

(i)

Definition of significant change

In this subparagraph, the term significant change means a significant change within the meaning of section 219.13(b)(3) of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this subparagraph), except that—

(I)

any reference contained in that section to a land management plan shall be deemed to be a reference to a land use plan;

(II)

any reference contained in that section to the Forest Service shall be deemed to be a reference to the Bureau of Land Management; and

(III)

any reference contained in that section to the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (Public Law 94–588; 90 Stat. 2949) shall be deemed to be a reference to this Act.

(ii)

Effect

Nothing in this paragraph affects any applicable requirement of the Secretary to consult with the head of any other Federal department or agency—

(I)

regarding a project carried out, or proposed to be carried out, with respect to a species listed as threatened or endangered, or in an area designated as critical habitat, pursuant to Public Law 93–205 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or

(II)

with respect to the development of a new land use plan or the revision of or other significant change to an existing land use plan.

.