S. 1032 – National Forest Good Neighbor Act of 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 3:07 PM UTC

The National Forest Good Neighbor Act of 2017 amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act to let the U.S. Forest Service Secretary sign cooperative agreements with state governors. These "good neighbor" agreements let states help carry out forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration work on National Forest System lands, such as treating insect‑infested trees, reducing hazardous fuels, and improving habitat. The law applies to most National Forest lands but excludes wilderness areas, lands where vegetation removal is prohibited, and wilderness study areas.

Key Provisions

Creates a definition of “authorized restoration services” that includes forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration activities performed on National Forest lands under a good neighbor agreement.
Specifies what counts as restoration services: treating insect or disease‑infested trees, reducing hazardous fuels, and other actions to improve forest, rangeland, and watershed health, while excluding road or building construction.
Defines a “good neighbor agreement” as a cooperative contract between the Secretary and a state governor to carry out these services, and requires the agreements to be publicly available.
Allows the Secretary to enter such agreements and exempts the restoration work from certain timber‑sale provisions of the National Forest Management Act.
Requires the Secretary to approve any silviculture prescriptions and marking guides used in timber sales related to the restoration work.
Keeps all NEPA (environmental review) decisions with the Secretary; they cannot be delegated to the governor.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

May 3, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 3, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

May 3, 2017

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about S. 1032 on the floor

2 Republicans1 Democrat

Rep. Edward R. RoyceR-CA-39 · Dec 21, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1023) to reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 through fiscal year 2021, and for other purposes. Mr. Speaker, I ask…

Rep. Eliot L. EngelD-NY-16 · Dec 21, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure. This is an important bill that improves our ability to address the acute environmental threats…

Rep. Thomas MassieR-KY-4 · Dec 21, 2018

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 3, 2017

II

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1032

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 3, 2017

Mr. Roberts introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

A BILL

To amend the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to provide for good neighbor agreements to conduct authorized restoration services on National Forest System land.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Forest Good Neighbor Act of 2017.

2.

Good neighbor authority

(a)

In general

The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 is amended—

(1)

by redesignating section 19 (16 U.S.C. 2113) as section 18; and

(2)

by inserting after section 18 (as so redesignated) the following:

19.

Good neighbor authority

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Authorized restoration services

The term authorized restoration services means similar and complementary forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration services carried out—

(A)

on National Forest System land, except—

(i)

a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System;

(ii)

Federal land on which the removal of vegetation is prohibited or restricted by a law of Congress or a Presidential proclamation (including the applicable implementation plan); or

(iii)

a wilderness study area; and

(B)

by the Secretary or a Governor pursuant to a good neighbor agreement.

(2)

Forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration services

(A)

In general

The term forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration services means—

(i)

an activity to treat insect- or disease-infected trees;

(ii)

an activity to reduce hazardous fuels; and

(iii)

any other activity to restore or improve forest, rangeland, and watershed health, including fish and wildlife habitat.

(B)

Exclusions

The term forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration services does not include—

(i)

the construction, reconstruction, repair, or restoration of a paved or permanent road or parking area; or

(ii)

the construction, alteration, repair, or replacement of a public building or work.

(3)

Good neighbor agreement

The term good neighbor agreement means a cooperative agreement or contract (including a sole source contract) entered into between the Secretary and a Governor to carry out authorized restoration services under this section.

(4)

Governor

The term Governor means the Governor or any other appropriate executive official of a State.

(5)

Road

The term road has the meaning given the term in section 212.1 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of the National Forest Good Neighbor Act of 2017).

(6)

State

The term State means—

(A)

a State; and

(B)

the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(b)

Good neighbor agreements

(1)

Authority

(A)

In general

The Secretary may enter into a good neighbor agreement with a Governor to carry out authorized restoration services in accordance with this section.

(B)

Public availability

The Secretary shall make each good neighbor agreement available to the public.

(2)

Timber sales

(A)

In general

Subsections (d) and (g) of section 14 of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a) shall not apply to authorized restoration services.

(B)

Approval of silviculture prescriptions and marking guides

The Secretary shall provide or approve all silviculture prescriptions and marking guides to be applied on National Forest System land described in subsection (a)(1)(A) in any timber sale project conducted under this section.

(3)

Retention of responsibilities

Any decision required to be made by the Secretary under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to any authorized restoration services shall not be delegated to a Governor.

.

(b)

Conforming amendments

(1)

Section 2A(c)(1) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101a(c)(1)) is amended by striking section 19(b) and inserting section 18(b).

(2)

Section 7(e) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103c(e)) is amended in the first sentence by striking section 19(b) and inserting section 18(b).

(3)

Section 13A(b) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2109a(b)) is amended by striking section 19(a) and inserting section 18(a).