119th Congress Public Lands and Natural Resources
H.R. 168: TORCH Act
Introduced
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed House (not reached)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
This bill establishes requirements concerning forest management on federal land, including provisions to expedite the approval of forest management activities.
Specifically, it expands exclusions from environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for certain forest management activities, including by directing the Forest Service to develop a categorical exclusion for forest management activities that mitigate the risks associated with high-priority hazard trees. A categorical exclusion is a class of actions that a federal agency has determined do not significantly affect the quality of the human environment and, thus, do not require an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement.
The bill also exempts the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management from the requirement to reinitiate consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 on an approved, amended, or revised land management plan when (1) a new species is listed or critical habitat is designated, or (2) new information reveals that the land management plan may affect a listed species or critical habitat in a manner or to an extent not previously considered.
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It also creates and modifies requirements related to vegetation management practices and forest management activities, such as activities to reduce wildfire risks. For example, the bill modifies the treatment of certain revenue under good neighbor agreements, which allow federal agencies to partner with state and local governments to carry out certain restoration services.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Who scored on this bill
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Other bills by Doug LaMalfa
- H.R. 2400: Pit River Land Transfer Act of 2026
- H.R. 1110: Grazing for Wildfire Risk Reduction Act
- H.J.Res. 78: Disapproval of United States Fish and Wildlife Service rule: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt
- H.R. 1586: Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2023
- H.R. 6368: Indian Buffalo Management Act
History
- Introduced in the House by Doug LaMalfa.
Show the full action history (3 actions)
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.
- Introduced in House
- Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.