H.R. 3637: Locally Led Restoration Act of 2025

The Locally Led Restoration Act of 2025 seeks to amend existing laws regarding forest management, specifically focusing on wildfire hazard fuel removal and timber sales. The key points of the bill include:

Third-Party Contracts for Wildfire Hazard Fuel Removal

This section allows private entities to propose stewardship contracts for projects aimed at wildfire hazard fuel removal. Key features include:

• Project Scope: Stewardship contracts can only be pursued if they include the removal of vegetation, with at least 10% of this vegetation being labeled as "salvage" (referring to wood materials that are dead, dying, or otherwise compromised).
• Notification Requirements: The federal authorities are required to publicly announce the opportunity for proposals at least once per year.
• Proposal Review: Upon receiving a proposal, there is a mandate for a response within 120 days, which may include reasons for denial and potential corrective actions.
• Environmental Review: A review is necessary before any contracts can be finalized. If environmental assessments are needed, these must commence within 120 days of proposal submission.
• Proposal Conflicts: In cases where multiple proposals for a project conflict, federal authorities hold the discretion to choose which project to accept.

Report Requirement

A report must be submitted to Congress five years after the bill's enactment. This report will detail:

• The number of project proposals received.
• The number of contracts and agreements made related to those proposals.
• The total acreage where forest thinning and hazardous fuels reduction have taken place.

Threshold for Advertised Timber Sales

This section addresses how timber sales are advertised under the National Forest Management Act. Key changes include:

• Threshold Adjustment: The financial threshold for when timber sales must be advertised will change from $10,000 to $55,000. This adjustment acknowledges past inflation and includes provisions for annual adjustments based on inflation moving forward.

Removal Restrictions and Contract Conditions

Contracts for stewardship projects cannot be executed on specific types of land, including:

• National Wilderness areas
• Inventoried roadless areas
• Any other area where vegetation removal is prohibited by federal law

The contracts must align with applicable forest plans or management strategies for the relevant land.

Overall Objectives

The overall aim of the Locally Led Restoration Act of 2025 is to enhance the management of U.S. forest resources, particularly in the context of reducing wildfire risks through local involvement and streamlined processes for timber sales and hazard removal projects.

Relevant Companies

• None found