This bill, titled the Emergency Fuel Reduction Act of 2025, would amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to speed up certain wildfire prevention projects on specified Federal land. It would add a new subsection that makes some hazardous fuel reduction projects a categorical exclusion from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Projects eligible for the exclusion include removal of insect-infected trees, dead or dying trees, trees that threaten public safety, and other hazardous fuels that threaten utilities, water systems, campgrounds, roadsides, schools, or other infrastructure. The exclusion also can apply when the Secretary determines that wildfire risk, insect or disease outbreaks, or invasive species on Federal land pose a risk to adjacent non-Federal land. An additional category covers treatments of 10,000 acres or less on Federal land that are at particular wildfire risk, contain threatened and endangered species habitat, or provide conservation benefits to species under consideration for listing, State-listed species, or special concern species. The subsection would not apply to lands that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, lands where vegetation removal is specifically prohibited by Federal law, or lands within a National Monument as of the date of enactment. The bill states purposes: to expedite wildfire prevention projects near communities, private property, and critical infrastructure; to improve forest and wildland health; and to promote recovery of threatened or endangered species, including the sage-grouse.
If enacted, the law would allow certain hazardous fuel removal projects on specified Federal lands to move forward without the NEPA environmental review process when they meet the bill's criteria. The projects covered include removing dead, dying, or insect-infected trees and other fuels that threaten infrastructure or nearby non-Federal land, and treating up to 10,000 acres in listed situations. The bill excludes designated wilderness, lands where removal is prohibited by law, and some National Monuments from these fast-track rules.
No publicly available information. The bill text does not specify funding sources, budget changes, or cost estimates.
The bill text states its purposes: to expedite wildfire prevention projects near communities and critical infrastructure, improve forest and wildland health, and help recover threatened or endangered species (including sage-grouse) whose habitat is harmed by wildland fire.
No publicly available information.