Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Litigation Relief for Forest Management Projects Act”.
Litigation Relief for Forest Management Projects Act
A BILL
To amend the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to discourage litigation against the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management relating to land management projects.
Sec. 2 Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974
Consultation regarding land management plans— Section 6(d) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604(d)) is amended—
by striking “(d) The Secretary” and inserting the following:
“(d) Public participation and consultation
“(1) In general—The Secretary”
by adding at the end the following:
“(2) No additional consultation required after approval of land management plans
“(A) In general—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no additional consultation shall be required under this subsection or any other provision of law (including section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536) and section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) with respect to—
“(i) the listing of a species as threatened or endangered, or a designation of critical habitat pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), if a land management plan has been adopted by the Secretary as of the date of designation; or
“(ii) any provision of a land management plan adopted as described in clause (i).
“(B) Effect of paragraph—Nothing in this paragraph affects any applicable requirement of the Secretary to consult with the head of any other Federal department or agency—
“(i) regarding a project carried out, or proposed to be carried out, in an area designated as critical habitat pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or
“(ii) with respect to the development of a new land management plan or the revision of an existing land management plan.”
Definition of Secretary; conforming amendments—
Definition of Secretary— Section 3(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601(a)) is amended, in the first sentence of the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting “(referred to in this Act as the Secretary)” after “Secretary of Agriculture”.
Conforming amendments— The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.) is amended, in sections 4 through 9, 12, 13, and 15, by striking “Secretary of Agriculture” each place it appears and inserting “Secretary”.
Sec. 3 Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976
Section 202(f) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712(f)) is amended—
by striking “(f) The Secretary” and inserting the following:
“(f) Public involvement
“(1) In general—The Secretary”
by adding at the end the following:
“(2) No additional consultation required after approval of land use plans
“(A) In general—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no additional consultation shall be required under this subsection or any other provision of law (including section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536) and section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)), with respect to—
“(i) the listing of a species as threatened or endangered, or a designation of critical habitat, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), if a land use plan has been adopted by the Secretary as of the date of listing or designation; or
“(ii) any provision of a land use plan adopted as described in clause (i).
“(B) Effect of paragraph—Nothing in this paragraph affects any applicable requirement of the Secretary to consult with the head of any other Federal department or agency—
“(i) regarding a project carried out, or proposed to be carried out, with respect to a species listed as threatened or endangered, or in an area designated as critical habitat, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or
“(ii) with respect to the development of a new land use plan or the revision of an existing land use plan.”