H.R. 6994 — Introduced in House

I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6994 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 16, 2024Mrs. Kim of California (for herself, Mr. LaMalfa, and Mr. Tiffany) introduced the following bill; which was 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 A BILL To require the reopening of covered recreation sites closed due to a natural disaster, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Restoring Our Unopened Trails for Enjoyment and Safety Act or the ROUTES Act. 2. Reopening of covered recreation sites closed due to natural disasters (a) Reopening required In the case of a covered recreation site that is fully or partially closed due to damage caused by a natural disaster (including hazard trees), the Secretary concerned shall reopen such covered recreation site not later than 2 years after the date on which such natural disaster ends, as determined by the Secretary concerned. (b) Categorical exclusion for covered recreation site restoration (1) Categorical exclusion established Activities described in paragraph (2) are a category of actions hereby designated as being categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332). (2) Activities designated for categorical exclusion The activities designated under this section for a categorical exclusion are activities carried out by the Secretary concerned on Interior recreational lands or National Forest System lands where the primary purpose of such activity is, consistent with the management plan applicable to such lands, to— (A) repair and restore covered recreation sites damaged by a natural disaster; (B) remove hazard trees for the purpose of public safety or improving access to a covered recreation site; (C) mitigate and reduce soil erosion impacting a covered recreation site; (D) restore drainage patterns to support a covered recreation site; or (E) any combination of the purposes specified in subparagraphs (A) through (D). (3) Availability of categorical exclusion On and after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned may use the categorical exclusion established under paragraph (1) in accordance with this subsection. (4) Extraordinary circumstances The activities categorically excluded under paragraph (1) shall be subject to the extraordinary circumstances procedures established pursuant to section 1501.4 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation). (c) Emergency hazard tree removal (1) National Forest System lands With respect to hazard trees located on a parcel of National Forest System lands, during the 2-year period after a natural disaster on such parcel ends, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture, section 220.4(b) of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act) shall have the force and effect of law with respect to such parcel. (2) Interior recreational lands With respect to hazard trees located on Interior recreational lands, during the 2-year period after a natural disaster on such parcel ends, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior, section 46.150 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act) shall have the force and effect of law with respect to such parcel. (d) Report Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress, and make publicly available on the website of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, a report that includes the number of covered recreation sites— (1) that have been reopened pursuant to subsection (a); and (2) that, as of the date of such report, are closed due to damage caused by a natural disaster and the date such natural disaster ended, as determined by the Secretary concerned. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered recreation site The term covered recreation site means a trail, campground, developed day-use recreation site, or road that is— (A) located on Interior recreational lands or National Forest System lands; and (B) operated by the Secretary concerned. (2) Hazard tree The term hazard tree means a standing tree that presents a visible hazard to people or property due to conditions such as the deterioration of, or damage to— (A) the root system, trunk, stem, or limbs of the tree; or (B) the direction or lean of the tree. (3) Interior recreational lands The term Interior recreational lands means lands managed by the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, or the Bureau of Reclamation. (4) National forest system The term National Forest System has the meaning given that term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)). (5) Natural disaster The term natural disaster includes a wildfire, flood, erosion, and tornado. (6) Secretary concerned The term Secretary concerned means— (A) the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to Interior recreational lands; or (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System lands.