#aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #adag ,,an ,,act ,to require the ,secretary of the ,interior to develop a categorical exclusion for covered vegetative management activities carried out to establish or improve habitat for greater sage-grouse and mule deer1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,sage-,grouse and ,mule ,deer ,habitat ,conservation and ,restoration ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,covered vegetation management activity 7,a7 ,in general ,the term covered vegetation management activity means any activity described in subparagraph 7,b7 that-- 7i7 is carried out on public land administered by the ,bureau of ,land ,management2 7ii7 meets the objectives of the order of the ,secretary numbered #cccf and dated ,january #e1 #bjae2 7iii7 conforms to an applicable land use plan2 7iv7 protects1 restores1 or improves greater sage-grouse or mule deer habitat in a sagebrush steppe ecosystem as described in-- 7,i7 ,circular #adaf of the ,united ,states ,geological ,survey entitled ,restoration ,handbook for ,sagebrush ,steppe ,ecosystems with ,emphasis on ,greater ,sage-,grouse ,habitat--,part #a4 ,concepts for ,understanding and ,applying ,restoration 7#bjae72 or 7,,ii7 the habitat guidelines for mule deer published by the ,mule ,deer ,working ,group of the ,western ,association of ,fish and ,wildlife ,agencies2 7v7 will not permanently impair-- 7,i7 the natural state of the treated area2 7,,ii7 outstanding opportunities for solitude2 7,,iii7 outstanding opportunities for primitive1 unconfined recreation2 7,,iv7 economic opportunities consistent with multiple-use management2 or 7,v7 the identified values of a unit of the ,national ,landscape ,conservation ,system2 and 7vi7 7,i7 restores native vegetation following a natural disturbance2 7,,ii7 prevents the expansion into greater sage-grouse or mule deer habitat of-- 7aa7 juniper1 pinyon pine1 or other associated conifers2 or 7bb7 nonnative or invasive vegetation2 7,,iii7 reduces the risk of loss of greater sage-grouse or mule deer habitat from wildfire or any other natural disturbance2 or 7,,iv7 provides emergency stabilization of soil resources after a natural disturbance4 7,b7 ,description of activities ,an activity referred to in subparagraph 7,a7 is-- 7i7 manual cutting and removal of juniper trees1 pinyon pine trees1 other associated conifers1 or other nonnative or invasive vegetation2 7ii7 mechanical mastication1 cutting1 or mowing1 mechanical piling and burning1 chaining1 broadcast burning1 or yarding2 7iii7 removal of cheat grass1 medusa head rye1 or other nonnative1 invasive vegetation2 7iv7 collection and seeding or planting of native vegetation using a manual1 mechanical1 or aerial method2 7v7 seeding of nonnative1 noninvasive1 ruderal vegetation only for the purpose of emergency stabilization2 7vi7 targeted use of an herbicide1 subject to the condition that the use shall be in accordance with applicable legal requirements1 ,federal agency procedures1 and land use plans2 7vii7 targeted livestock grazing to mitigate hazardous fuels and control noxious and invasive weeds2 7viii7 temporary removal of wild horses or burros in the area in which the activity is being carried out to ensure treatment objectives are met2 7ix7 in coordination with the affected permit holder1 modification or adjustment of permissible usage under an annual plan of use of a grazing permit issued by the ,secretary to achieve restoration treatment objectives2 7x7 installation of new1 or modification of existing1 fencing or water sources intended to control use or improve wildlife habitat2 or 7xi7 necessary maintenance of1 repairs to1 rehabilitation of1 or reconstruction of an existing permanent road or construction of temporary roads to accomplish the activities described in this subparagraph4 7,c7 ,exclusions ,the term covered vegetation management activity does not include-- 7i7 any activity conducted in a wilderness area or wilderness study area2 or 7ii7 any activity for the construction of a permanent road or permanent trail4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#c7 ,temporary road ,the term temporary road means a road that is-- 7,a7 authorized-- 7i7 by a contract1 permit1 lease1 other written authorization2 or 7ii7 pursuant to an emergency operation2 7,b7 not intended to be part of the permanent transportation system of a ,federal department or agency2 7,c7 not necessary for long-term resource management2 7,d7 designed in accordance with standards appropriate for the intended use of the road1 taking into consideration-- 7i7 safety2 7ii7 the cost of transportation2 and 7iii7 impacts to land and resources2 and 7,e7 managed to minimize-- 7i7 erosion2 and 7ii7 the introduction or spread of invasive species4 #c4 ,improvement of habitat for greater sage-grouse and mule deer 7a7 ,categorical exclusion 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall develop #a or more categorical exclusions 7as defined in section #aejh4d of title #dj1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation77 for covered vegetation management activities carried out to protect1 restore1 or improve habitat for greater sage-grouse or mule deer4 7#b7 ,administration ,in developing and administering a categorical exclusion under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 comply with the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472 7,b7 apply the extraordinary circumstances procedures under section #bbj4f of title #cf1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or successor regulations71 in determining whether to use the categorical exclusion2 and 7,c7 consider-- 7i7 the relative efficacy of landscape-scale habitat projects2 7ii7 the likelihood of continued declines in the populations of greater sage-grouse and mule deer in the absence of landscape-scale vegetation management2 and 7iii7 the need for habitat restoration activities after wildfire or other natural disturbances4 7b7 ,implementation of covered vegetative management activities within the range of greater sage-grouse and mule deer ,if a categorical exclusion developed under subsection 7a7 is used to implement a covered vegetative management activity in an area within the range of both greater sage-grouse and mule deer1 the covered vegetative management activity shall protect1 restore1 or improve habitat concurrently for both greater sage-grouse and mule deer4 7c7 ,long-term monitoring and maintenance ,before commencing any covered vegetation management activity that is covered by a categorical exclusion under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall develop a long-term monitoring and maintenance plan1 covering at least the #bj year-period beginning on the date of commencement1 to ensure that management of the treated area does not degrade the habitat gains secured by the covered vegetation management activity4 7d7 ,disposal of vegetative material ,subject to applicable local restrictions1 any vegetative material resulting from a covered vegetation management activity that is covered by a categorical exclusion under subsection 7a7 may be-- 7#a7 used for-- 7,a7 fuel wood2 or 7,b7 other products2 or 7#b7 piled or burned1 or both4 7e7 ,treatment for temporary roads 7#a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding section #b7a77;,b77xi71 any temporary road constructed in carrying out a covered vegetation management activity that is covered by a categorical exclusion under subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 shall be used by the ,secretary for the covered vegetation management activity for not more than #b years2 and 7,b7 shall be decommissioned by the ,secretary not later than #c years after the earlier of the date on which-- 7i7 the temporary road is no longer needed2 and 7ii7 the project is completed4 7#b7 ,requirement ,a treatment under paragraph 7#a7 shall include reestablishing native vegetative cover-- 7,a7 as soon as practicable2 but 7,b7 not later than #aj years after the date of completion of the applicable covered vegetation management activity4 ,passed the ,senate ,september #f1 #bjah4,secretary