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HR 6994 118th Congress House Public Lands and Natural Resources Congressional oversight Environmental assessment, monitoring, research Forests, forestry, trees Government information and archives Natural disasters Parks, recreation areas, trails

ROUTES Act

Introduced: January 16, 2024 Introduced by: Kim, Young Republican · California See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 11 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 18, 2024
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 753.
Dec 18, 2024
Committee on Agriculture discharged.
Dec 18, 2024
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-921, Part I.
Nov 20, 2024
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote.
Nov 20, 2024
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Nov 20, 2024
Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged
Aug 29, 2024
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry.
Jan 31, 2024
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Jan 30, 2024
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Jan 16, 2024
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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.
Jan 16, 2024
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Restoring Our Unopened Trails for Enjoyment and Safety Act or the ROUTES Act

This bill requires the reopening of certain recreation sites closed due to a natural disaster.

In the case of a recreation site that is fully or partially closed due to damage caused by a natural disaster (including certain standing trees that present a visible hazard), the Department of the Interior (with respect to Interior recreational lands) or the Department of Agriculture (with respect to National Forest System lands) must reopen the site not later than two years after the date on which the disaster ends.

The bill categorically excludes specified activities from the preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement where the primary purpose of the activity is, consistent with the applicable management plan, to

  • repair and restore recreation sites damaged by a natural disaster,
  • remove hazard trees for the purpose of public safety or improving access,
  • mitigate and reduce soil erosion impacting a recreation site,
  • restore drainage patterns to support a recreation site, or
  • any combination of these purposes.

The bill provides for emergency hazard tree removal.

Interior or Agriculture must report to Congress and make the report publicly available.

What's happening now December 18, 2024

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 753.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2