‘Fix Our Forest’ Bill Passed in Senate Committee

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(NAFB.com) – A Senate committee easily passed legislation Tuesday to reduce legal and environmental checks on forest thinning and logging aimed at reducing wildfire risks. E&E News reports the 18-5 vote in the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee was the latest indication that the “Fix Our Forests Act,” S. 1462, from Sen. John Curtis, appears to have momentum after similar bills have languished in Congress. The bill would speed forest projects in high-risk “firesheds” identified by the Forest Service. A new board of officials from several federal agencies would advise on the creation of additional firesheds on national forest system land. In the designated areas, projects would face fewer potential legal or environmental hurdles. Categorical exclusions from the National Environmental Policy Act would grow from 3,000 acres to 10,000 acres in some places, and when legal challenges arise, judges would face new limits on imposing temporary or permanent injunctions to block the work.

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