Forest management activities on National Forest System lands

(a) In general The Secretary may conduct forest management activities on National Forest System land. (b) Coordination In carrying out forest management activities, the Secretary shall, as appropriate, coordinate with impacted parties to increase efficiency and maximize the compatibility of management practices across National Forest System lands. (c) Objectives (1) In general The Secretary shall conduct forest management activities on National Forest System land in a manner that attains multiple ecosystem benefits, including.— (A) reducing forest fuels; (B) maintaining the diversity of plant and animal communities; (C) improving soil, streams, lakes, wetlands, and water quality, including in riparian areas; and (D) increasing resilience to changing water temperature and precipitation regimes. (d) Ground disturbance Consistent with applicable Federal law and any applicable forest plan, the Secretary shall— (1) establish criteria for ground conditions following a forest management activity carried out under a forest plan that results in ground disturbances; and (2) monitor such ground conditions to determine whether desired outcomes or conditions are achieved. (e) Availability of categorical exclusion for certain forest management activities A forest management activity conducted on National Forest System land for the purpose of reducing forest fuels is categorically excluded from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) if the forest management activity— (1) does not exceed 10,000 acres, including not more than 3,000 acres of mechanical thinning; (2) is developed— (A) in coordination with impacted parties, specifically including representatives of local governments, such as county supervisors or county commissioners; and (B) in consultation with other entities, as determined by the Secretary/any other entity determined relevant by the Secretary; and (3) is consistent with any applicable forest plan. (f) Cooperative authorities The Secretary may enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with an impacted party to provide for fuel reduction, soil restoration, erosion control, reforestation, riparian restoration, revegetation, and similar management activities on Federal land and non-Federal land. (g) Definitions In this section: (1) Forest management activity The term forest management activity means a project or activity that is carried out by the Secretary on National Forest System land and is consistent with any applicable forest plan. (2) Forest plan The term forest plan means a land and resource management plan under section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1406). (3) Impacted parties The term impacted parties includes— (A) State, local, and Tribal governments; (B) local fire departments; (C) other relevant volunteer groups. (4) National Forest System The term National Forest System has the meaning given that term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).

(a) In general The Secretary may conduct forest management activities on National Forest System land. (b) Coordination In carrying out forest management activities, the Secretary shall, as appropriate, coordinate with impacted parties to increase efficiency and maximize the compatibility of management practices across National Forest System lands. (c) Objectives (1) In general The Secretary shall conduct forest management activities on National Forest System land in a manner that attains multiple ecosystem benefits, including.— (A) reducing forest fuels; (B) maintaining the diversity of plant and animal communities; (C) improving soil, streams, lakes, wetlands, and water quality, including in riparian areas; and (D) increasing resilience to changing water temperature and precipitation regimes. (d) Ground disturbance Consistent with applicable Federal law and any applicable forest plan, the Secretary shall— (1) establish criteria for ground conditions following a forest management activity carried out under a forest plan that results in ground disturbances; and (2) monitor such ground conditions to determine whether desired outcomes or conditions are achieved. (e) Availability of categorical exclusion for certain forest management activities A forest management activity conducted on National Forest System land for the purpose of reducing forest fuels is categorically excluded from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) if the forest management activity— (1) does not exceed 10,000 acres, including not more than 3,000 acres of mechanical thinning; (2) is developed— (A) in coordination with impacted parties, specifically including representatives of local governments, such as county supervisors or county commissioners; and (B) in consultation with other entities, as determined by the Secretary/any other entity determined relevant by the Secretary; and (3) is consistent with any applicable forest plan. (f) Cooperative authorities The Secretary may enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with an impacted party to provide for fuel reduction, soil restoration, erosion control, reforestation, riparian restoration, revegetation, and similar management activities on Federal land and non-Federal land. (g) Definitions In this section: (1) Forest management activity The term forest management activity means a project or activity that is carried out by the Secretary on National Forest System land and is consistent with any applicable forest plan. (2) Forest plan The term forest plan means a land and resource management plan under section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1406). (3) Impacted parties The term impacted parties includes— (A) State, local, and Tribal governments; (B) local fire departments; (C) other relevant volunteer groups. (4) National Forest System The term National Forest System has the meaning given that term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).