This bill removes barriers to removing small-diameter trees, defined as trees eight inches or smaller in diameter, from federal lands in fire-prone areas west of the 100th meridian. The legislation allows the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Reclamation to authorize removal of these trees without charging fees, requiring volume measurements, or conducting timber appraisals. The bill aims to help reduce wildfire hazards by making it easier and cheaper for individuals and companies to thin forests in high-risk areas. The Forest Service must designate fire hazard areas containing small-diameter trees as free-use areas, meaning people can remove trees without cost. These provisions apply to all removal permits or contracts entered into after the bill becomes law.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.