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HR 2921 115th Congress House Public Lands and Natural Resources Congressional oversight Fires Forests, forestry, trees Land use and conservation Public utilities and utility rates

National Forest System Vegetation Management Pilot Program Act of 2017

Introduced: June 15, 2017 Introduced by: Cramer, Kevin Republican · North Dakota See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 16 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 1, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Oct 31, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Oct 31, 2017
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8280-8281)
Oct 31, 2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8280-8281)
Oct 31, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2921.
Oct 31, 2017
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8280-8282)
Oct 31, 2017
Mr. Crawford moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Oct 19, 2017
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 261.
Oct 19, 2017
Committee on Natural Resources discharged.
Oct 19, 2017
Reported by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 115-357, Part I.
Oct 4, 2017
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Oct 4, 2017
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 11, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.
Jun 26, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Jun 15, 2017
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.
Jun 15, 2017
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

National Forest System Vegetation Management Pilot Program Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct a limited, voluntary pilot program to permit vegetation management projects on National Forest System (NFS) land adjacent to rights-of-way to better protect utility infrastructure from potential passing wildfires.

Program participants must have a right-of-way on NFS land. USDA shall give priority to holders of a right-of-way who have worked with Forest Service fire scientists and used technologies, such as light detection and ranging surveys, to improve utility infrastructure protection prescriptions.

Vegetation management projects will involve limited and selective vegetation management activities, which:

  • shall create the least amount of disturbance necessary to protect utility infrastructure from passing wildfires;
  • may include thinning, fuel reduction, and creation and treatment of shaded fuel breaks;
  • must only take place adjacent to the participant's right-of-way or within 75 feet of it;
  • must not take place in any designated wilderness area, wilderness study area, or inventoried roadless area; and
  • shall be subject to approval by the Forest Service.

Participants shall not be held liable to the federal government for damage that was proximately caused by activities conducted pursuant to an approved vegetation management project, unless:

  • such activities were carried out in a manner that was grossly negligent or that was in violation of criminal law, or
  • the damage was caused by the participant's failure to comply with the specific safety requirements imposed by the Forest Service as a condition of participation in the pilot program.

In order to implement the pilot program in an efficient and expeditious manner, USDA may waive or modify specific provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, including to allow for the development of contracts or agreements on a noncompetitive basis.

USDA may:

  • retain any funds provided to the Forest Service by participants in the pilot program, and
  • use such funds to conduct such program.

The bill states that the authority to conduct the pilot program and any vegetation management projects under such program will expire on December 21, 2027.

What's happening now November 1, 2017

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1