Today, Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) applauded U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ Secretarial Memo on promoting healthy forests and increasing timber production.
“Catastrophic wildfires are devastating the West, while frivolous regulations and endless lawsuits routinely bog down and block forest management projects,” said Chairman LaMalfa. “I want to thank Secretary Rollins for her action to cut through this intransigence and order forestry and timber policies that will reduce wildfire risk. Forest managers will now be able to increase timber harvests and clear out hazardous fuels. These increased harvests will also help spur the West’s timber industry, fueling economic development in many remote areas. This is great news for healthy forests and rural Americans.”
The Secretarial Memo:
Directs the Deputy Chief for the National Forest System to develop a national strategy to increase active forest management.
Directs all Regional Foresters to develop 5-year strategies to increase their timber volume offered, leading to an agencywide increase of 25% over the next 4-5 years.
Directs District Rangers and Forest Supervisors to utilize direct timber sale opportunities.
Directs use of innovative and efficient approaches to meeting the minimum requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), National Historic Preservation Act, and other environmental laws, including categorical exclusions, emergency authorities (including the Secretary’s recent expanded Emergency Situation Determination), condition-based management, determinations of NEPA adequacy, and staged or tiered decision-making and directs compliance with the NEPA statutory time limits.
Directs the Deputy Chief of the National Forest System, within 14 days, to release direction for using Emergency NEPA, ESA, and other regulatory authorities to streamline and simplify permitting processes.
Expects more coordination with States, Tribes and Counties to establish priorities and identify opportunities to share resources for execution of active forest management strategies and increase active forest management coordination.
Funds up to $50 Million in Good Neighbor Authority Agreements to fund road and bridge maintenance and reconstruction for active forest management projects.
