Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes wildfire suppression funds and limits forest management activity requirements.

Highlights:

• Requires the President to establish the Wildfire Suppression Operations Account in the event of a major disaster for wildfire on federal lands (Title IX, Sec. 902).
• Authorizes the President to appropriate funds from the Wildfire Suppression Operations Account to conduct wildfire suppression operations after previous funds have been exhausted (Title IX, Sec. 902).
• Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to issue a “categorical exclusion” to certain forest management activities reducing the risk of wildfire, including, but not limited to, the removal of juniper trees, conifer trees, or invasive weeds (Title I, Sec. 106).
• Defines “categorical exclusion” as an exception to certain requirements for a project or activity relating to the management of National Forest System lands, including, but not limited to, the following requirements (Sec. 2):
• The requirement to report the project’s environmental impact;
• The requirement to report the project’s alternatives; and
• The requirement to report the project’s irreversible resource commitments.
• Requires a plaintiff who challenges a forest management activity to post a bond or other security equal to the anticipated costs of the action estimated by the Secretary of Agriculture (Title III, Sec. 302).
• Requires the court to return the bond or security to the plaintiff if the court rules in his or her favor on the action challenging the forest management activity, plus interest from the date the bond was provided (Title III, Sec. 302).
• Prohibits a court from issuing a restraining order or preliminary injunction with respect to a decision to conduct a salvage operation or reforestation activity in response to a catastrophic event (Title II, Sec. 203).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text