Fix Our Forests Act
Fix Our Forests Act
Plain Language Summary
# Fix Our Forests Act Summary **What it does:** The Fix Our Forests Act aims to reduce wildfire threats on federal lands by streamlining how the U.S. Forest Service and related agencies manage forests. The bill creates a "Fireshed Center" (a joint effort between the Forest Service and U.S.
Geological Survey) to assess wildfire risks and maintain a public database of fire-prone areas. It also speeds up the approval process for forest management projects by reducing environmental review requirements under federal law. **Who it affects:** This legislation primarily impacts federal forest management decisions, wildfire prevention efforts, and communities in wildfire-prone regions. It also affects the agencies responsible for managing these lands and the environmental review process itself. **Key provisions:** The bill identifies high-risk forest areas as "fireshed management areas," requires creation of a publicly accessible online tool with wildfire data and maps, and expedites certain forest management projects by exempting some activities from detailed environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). **Current status:** The bill passed the House of Representatives and is awaiting action in the Senate.
CRS Official Summary
Fix Our Forests ActThis bill establishes requirements for managing forests on federal land, including requirements concerning reducing wildfire threats, expediting the review of certain forest management projects, and implementing forest management projects and other activities.Specifically, the bill (1) designates certain firesheds at high risk for wildfires as fireshed management areas; (2) directs the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Geological Survey to jointly establish an interagency Fireshed Center that is responsible for duties related to assessing and predicting fire, including maintaining a fireshed registry on a publicly accessible website that provides interactive geospatial data on individual firesheds; and (3) makes other requirements related to reducing wildfire.Next, the bill expedites the review of certain forest management projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and exempts certain activities from NEPA review. It also establishes intra-agency strike teams to accelerate the review and any interagency consultation processes under NEPA, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the National Historic Preservation Act. It also limits consultation requirements concerning threatened and endangered species under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Management and Policy Act of 1976. Finally, it limits litigation involving fireshed management projects and limits remedies that courts may provide.Additionally, the bill supports reducing community wildfire risks, carrying out forest restoration and stewardship activities (including watershed protection and restoration), conducting biochar demonstration projects, advancing technologies to address forest wildfires, and assisting wildland firefighters and their families.
Latest Action
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-27.