This bill categorically excludes from the environmental review requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) certain hazardous fuel reduction projects on federal land. A categorical exclusion applies to a class of actions that do not require an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement under NEPA.
The categorical exclusion established by the bill applies to a hazardous fuel reduction project that (1) involves the removal of trees that are dead, dying, or insect-infected or present a threat to public safety; (2) involves the removal of hazardous fuels threatening infrastructure; (3) is conducted on federal land with conditions that pose a risk to adjacent nonfederal land; or (4) treats 10,000 acres or less of federal land that is at particular risk for wildfire, contains threatened and endangered species habitat, or provides conservation benefits to certain species, such as a special concern species.
This categorical exclusion does not apply to federal land (1) that is a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, (2) on which the removal of vegetation is specifically prohibited by federal law, or (3) that is within a national monument as of the date of enactment of this bill.