HR 8682
Accelerating Forest Management Act
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Bill overview
The Accelerating Forest Management Act aims to streamline forest management practices on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands by codifying a categorical exclusion for salvage harvesting. This allows for the removal of dead or dying trees resulting from natural disturbances like fire and disease, up to certain acreage limits, with specific restrictions on road construction and operation. The act also includes requirements for documenting how resource considerations like erosion control and invasive species are addressed during these salvage harvesting activities.
Key provisions
- Designates salvage harvesting of dead or dying trees as categorically excluded from environmental assessments and impact statements.
- Limits salvage harvesting to areas affected by disturbances (fire, insects, etc.) up to 1,000 acres or 3,000 acres of BLM land.
- Permits construction of up to 1 mile of new permanent roads to facilitate salvage harvesting, subject to land use planning.
- Allows for temporary road construction at a ratio of 2.25 miles per 1,000 acres, with specific decommissioning requirements.
- Requires disclosure of design features addressing resource considerations like snag and downed wood, erosion control, and invasive species.
- Defines ‘dying tree’ as a tree likely to die within two years due to disturbance.
- Clarifies the definition of ‘temporary road’ as roads not part of the permanent transportation system.
- Extends the Forest Ecosystem Health and Recovery Fund authorization period to 2033.
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 8682
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
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.
This Act may be cited as the Accelerating Forest Management Act
.
The salvage harvesting activities designated under this section for categorical exclusion are—
covered actions with respect to dead or dying trees resulting from fire, insects, disease, drought, or other disturbances within treatment areas—
not to exceed 1,000 acres where the disturbance affects 3,000 acres of Bureau-managed lands or less; and
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
carried out in conformance with applicable land use planning decisions.
In addition to the covered actions under paragraph (1), salvage harvesting activities to which the categorical exclusion applies under this section—
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;
may include maintenance and renovation of existing roads as needed;
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—
are not part of the permanent transportation system of the Bureau;
are designed to standards appropriate for their intended use (safety, erosion control, sedimentation prevention, and resource protection);
are not needed for long-term resource management; and
are decommissioned and stabilized after use to minimize erosion and protect water quality; and
Snag and downed wood—amount to be created or retained.
Erosion control—specifications or measures (e.g., water bars, dispersed slash).
Soil compaction—criteria for avoidance, minimization, or remediation.
Logging systems—types and scope of constraints (e.g., seasonal, location, extent, etc.).
Seasonal operations—purpose and extent of operating restrictions.
Invasive species—measures to prevent or limit spread.
Riparian areas—buffer widths and/or operating restrictions.
Prescribed fire—operating constraints for underburning or pile burning.
Temporary roads—decommissioning standards.
In this section:
The term Bureau means the Bureau of Land Management.
Cutting, yarding, and removal of dead or dying trees.
Cutting, yarding, and removal of live trees needed for operations, landings, skid trails, or road clearing.
Chipping/grinding or removal of residual slash.
Jackpot burning, pile burning, and underburning.
Seeding or planting necessary to accelerate native species re-establishment.
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.
The term permanent road means a road constructed or reconstructed for use, as part of the permanent transportation system of the Bureau.
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.
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
.