§6592b Establishment of Fuel Breaks in Forests and Other Wildland Vegetation

Summary

Allows certain forest projects that make or keep linear fuel breaks to skip a full NEPA environmental study, as long as the work is written up in a decision memo and supporting record. Secretary concerned means the Secretary of Agriculture for National Forest System land and the Secretary of the Interior for Bureau of Land Management public lands. The fuel breaks can be up to 1,000 feet wide and use or follow existing lines like roads, pipelines, power lines, or water works to lower wildfire risk on federal land or nearby communities. Work that can use the faster review includes mowing or grinding brush, thinning trees by hand or machine, piling and removing cut material, selling vegetation products, targeted grazing, using pesticides or herbicides, seeding native plants, and prescribed burns (including pile burns). Projects cannot be done in National Wilderness areas, places where cutting is banned or limited by law or proclamation, wilderness study areas, or anywhere that would conflict with the land’s management plan. Before using the faster review, the agency must check for extraordinary circumstances under 36 C.F.R. §220.6 (or a replacement rule). Each treatment unit can’t be larger than 3,000 acres. Projects should be mainly in the wildland‑urban interface or public drinking water source areas, or, if not, in certain high‑risk fire areas (Condition Class 2 or 3 in Fire Regime Group I–III) or insect/disease areas designated as of November 15, 2021. The agencies must use the best available science. No new permanent roads are allowed; existing permanent roads can be repaired; any temporary roads must be closed and restored within 3 years after the project ends. The agencies must also encourage collaboration with State and local governments, Indian Tribes, and interested people while planning each project.