May 7, 2026
Mr. Downing introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To codify the categorical exclusion proposed in the National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures for the Bureau of Land Management related to salvage harvesting published on April 6, 2026, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Accelerating Forest Management Act
.
Sec. 2. Codification of categorical exclusion
(a) In general
Salvage harvesting activities described in subsection (b) are a category of actions hereby designated as being categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332).
(b) Salvage harvesting activities designated for categorical exclusions
(1) In general
The salvage harvesting activities designated under this section for categorical exclusion are—
(A)
covered actions with respect to dead or dying trees resulting from fire, insects, disease, drought, or other disturbances within treatment areas—
(i)
not to exceed 1,000 acres where the disturbance affects 3,000 acres of Bureau-managed lands or less; and
(ii)
not to exceed the lesser of 5,000 acres or 1/3 of the disturbance area where the disturbance exceeds 3,000 acres of Bureau-managed lands; and
(B)
carried out in conformance with applicable land use planning decisions.
(2) Limitations
In addition to the covered actions under paragraph (1), salvage harvesting activities to which the categorical exclusion applies under this section—
(A)
may include construction of up to 1 mile of new permanent road to facilitate covered actions, provided that all segments conform to applicable land use planning decisions with route-specific designations disclosed where travel management planning has been completed;
(B)
may include maintenance and renovation of existing roads as needed;
(C)
may include construction of temporary roads not to exceed a ratio of 2.25 miles per 1,000 acres of harvest area as needed, provided that the temporary roads—
(i)
are not part of the permanent transportation system of the Bureau;
(ii)
are designed to standards appropriate for their intended use (safety, erosion control, sedimentation prevention, and resource protection);
(iii)
are not needed for long-term resource management; and
(iv)
are decommissioned and stabilized after use to minimize erosion and protect water quality; and
(D)
require the disclosure of design features, in documentation of finding that an action is excluded pursuant to the use of this categorical exclusion, that address the following resource considerations consistent with applicable land use plan decisions, or, where no plan requirements apply, specify how the following resource considerations are addressed:
(i)
Snag and downed wood—amount to be created or retained.
(ii)
Erosion control—specifications or measures (e.g., water bars, dispersed slash).
(iii)
Soil compaction—criteria for avoidance, minimization, or remediation.
(iv)
Logging systems—types and scope of constraints (e.g., seasonal, location, extent, etc.).
(v)
Seasonal operations—purpose and extent of operating restrictions.
(vi)
Invasive species—measures to prevent or limit spread.
(vii)
Riparian areas—buffer widths and/or operating restrictions.
(viii)
Prescribed fire—operating constraints for underburning or pile burning.
(ix)
Temporary roads—decommissioning standards.
(c) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Bureau
The term Bureau means the Bureau of Land Management.
(2) Covered actions
The term covered actions means the one or more of the following actions:
(A)
Cutting, yarding, and removal of dead or dying trees.
(B)
Cutting, yarding, and removal of live trees needed for operations, landings, skid trails, or road clearing.
(C)
Chipping/grinding or removal of residual slash.
(D)
Jackpot burning, pile burning, and underburning.
(E)
Seeding or planting necessary to accelerate native species re-establishment.
(3) Dying tree
The term dying tree means a standing tree severely damaged by disturbance (such as fire, wind, insects, disease, drought) and, in the judgment of a forestry professional or someone technically trained for the work, is likely to die within two years.
(4) Permanent road
The term permanent road means a road constructed or reconstructed for use, as part of the permanent transportation system of the Bureau.
(5) Temporary road
The term temporary road means a road authorized by contract, permit, lease, written authorization, or emergency operation, not added to the permanent system, and decommissioned after use.
Sec. 3. Extension of Forest Ecosystem Health and Recovery Fund
Title I of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–88) is amended in the text under the heading FOREST ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND RECOVERY FUND
by striking 2020
each place it appears and inserting 2033
.