Expediting Forest Restoration and Recovery Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced
Summary
Would speed up hazardous fuel and insect and disease risk reduction projects on federal forest land by letting the Forest Service use HFRA’s expedited tools and a categorical exclusion in agency-designated treatment areas. It also clarifies planning priorities, limits some exclusions for wilderness and roadless areas, and requires annual public reporting of treated acreage.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Faster forest treatments in risk areas
If enacted, the Forest Service would be allowed to speed up hazardous fuel and insect/disease projects in designated at-risk areas. "Insect and disease treatment areas" would mean places the Secretary designates or areas marked at-risk on the latest National Insect and Disease Risk Map. The Secretary would have to use a categorical exclusion to speed projects where the area is suitable for timber production or where timber harvest is allowed; that rule would also apply to Fire Regime Group IV. Large or sensitive projects — for example areas as large as a Hydrologic Unit Code 5 watershed or where the Secretary finds other significant resource concerns — would still need an environmental assessment or impact statement. National Wilderness components and inventoried roadless areas would generally be excluded from the expedited rule unless the activity is allowed under the final Roadless rule or a State roadless rule. If enacted, the Secretary would also publish a yearly public report showing acreage treated in these areas the prior year.
States keep timber sale money
If enacted, Governors would keep timber sale receipts from Good Neighbor agreements to pay for restoration under that same agreement first. If money remains, Governors could use the leftover funds for other in-state Good Neighbor restoration services.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
SD • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Mike Rounds
SD • R
Sponsored 2/10/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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