H.R. 1586 — Introduced in House

I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1586 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 14, 2023Mr. LaMalfa (for himself, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Mr. McClintock, Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. Nehls, Mrs. Boebert, Mr. Crawford, Mrs. Kim of California, Mr. Zinke, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Moore of Utah, Mr. Owens, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Stauber, Mr. Issa, Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr. Kiley, Mr. Rosendale, Mr. Costa, and Ms. Hageman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and 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 A BILL To allow the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to use a fire retardant, chemical, or water for fire suppression, control, or prevention activities. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2023. 2. Permitting requirements for certain discharges of fire retardant (a) Authorized uses The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture are each authorized to discharge a fire retardant, chemical, or water for fire suppression, control, or prevention activities. (b) Permitting requirements Notwithstanding any provision of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), a permit under section 402 of such Act (33 U.S.C. 1342) shall not be required for the activities authorized by subsection (a) or for similar activities conducted by a covered entity. (c) Definition In this section, the term covered entity means— (1) the Forest Service; (2) the National Park Service; (3) the Bureau of Land Management; (4) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; (5) the Bureau of Indian Affairs; (6) the Federal Emergency Management Agency; (7) a State or a political subdivision thereof; or (8) a Tribal government.