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To amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to provide that the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior are not required to reinitiate consultation on a land management plan or land use plan under certain circumstances, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill amends federal land management laws to reduce consultation requirements under the Endangered Species Act for the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. Specifically, it exempts the Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of the Interior from having to reinitiate Endangered Species Act consultation when a new species is listed, critical habitat is designated, or new information about potential effects on listed species emerges after a land management plan is approved. The exemption applies to both Forest Service land management plans and Bureau of Land Management land use plans. The changes streamline the planning process by eliminating the need to restart consultation procedures in response to new listings or information after a plan is already in place.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1] (R-MT)
2 cosponsors
- Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1] (R-ID)
- Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4] (R-WA)
Actions (3)
- Feb 28, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture. · house
- Jan 21, 2025 Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. · house
- Jan 21, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
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Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 21, 2025
Mr. Zinke (for himself and Mr. Newhouse) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to provide that the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior are not required to reinitiate consultation on a land management plan or land use plan under certain circumstances, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Forest Information Reform Act” or as the “FIR Act”.
SEC. 2. NO ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION REQUIRED.
(a) Forest Service Plans.—Section 6(d)(2) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604(d)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
“(2) No additional consultation required under certain circumstances.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not be required to reinitiate consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)) or section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), on a land management plan approved, amended, or revised under this section when—
“(A) a new species is listed or critical habitat is designated under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or
“(B) new information reveals effects of the land management plan that may affect a species listed or critical habitat designated under that Act in a manner or to an extent not previously considered.”.
(b) Bureau of Land Management Plans.—Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(g) No Additional Consultation Required Under Certain Circumstances.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not be required to reinitiate consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)) or section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), on a land use plan approved, amended, or revised under this section when—
“(1) a new species is listed or critical habitat is designated under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or
“(2) new information reveals effects of the land use plan that may affect a species listed or critical habitat designated under that Act in a manner or to an extent not previously considered.”. <all>
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