S 395

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 4, 2025

Ms. Lummis (for herself, Mr. Barrasso, and Mr. Sheehy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

A BILL

To amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to expedite wildfire prevention projects to reduce the risk of wildfire on certain high-risk Federal land, 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 “Emergency Fuel Reduction Act of 2025”.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

The purposes of this Act are—

(1) to expedite wildfire prevention projects to reduce the risk of wildfire on certain high-risk Federal land adjacent to communities, private property, and critical infrastructure;

(2) to improve forest and wildland health; and

(3) to promote the recovery of threatened or endangered species or other species under consideration to be listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), including the sage-grouse species, the habitat of which is negatively impacted by wildland fire.

SEC. 3. EXPEDITED REVIEW OF PROJECTS ON FEDERAL LAND.

Section 104 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6514) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsections (e) through (h) as subsections (f) through (i), respectively;

(2) in subsection (c)(1)(C)(i), by striking “subsection

(f)” and inserting “subsection (g)”; and

(3) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:

“(e) Categorical Exclusion of Certain Projects.—

“(1) In general.—An authorized hazardous fuel reduction project shall be categorically excluded from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) if the authorized hazardous fuel reduction project—

“(A) involves the removal of—

“(i) insect-infected trees;

“(ii) dead or dying trees;

“(iii) trees presenting a threat to public safety; or

“(iv) other hazardous fuels threatening—

“(I) utility or communications infrastructure;

“(II) municipal water supply systems;

“(III) campgrounds;

“(IV) roadsides;

“(V) schools; or

“(VI) other infrastructure;

“(B) is conducted on Federal land on which the Secretary determines that conditions, such as the risk of wildfire, an insect or disease epidemic, or the presence of invasive species, pose a risk to adjacent non-Federal land; or

“(C) treats 10,000 acres or less of Federal land that—

“(i) is at particular risk for wildfire;

“(ii) contains threatened and endangered species habitat; or

“(iii) provides conservation benefits to—

“(I) a species that is not listed as an endangered species or a threatened species under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533), but is under consideration to be so listed;

“(II) a State-listed species; or

“(III) a special concern species.

“(2) Applicability.—This subsection shall not apply to Federal land—

“(A) that is a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System;

“(B) on which the removal of vegetation is specifically prohibited by Federal law; or

“(C) that is within a National Monument as of the date of enactment of the Emergency Fuel Reduction Act of 2025.”. <all>