A proposed “wild-fire fix” bill (PL 115-141 of March 23), sponsored by Senator Simpson (R-Idaho), includes various provisions to address forest and fuels management. The provision proposes to categorically exemption from environmental review hazardous fuels reduction projects less than 3,000 acres and authorized pursuant to the Health Forests Restoration Act of 2003. The House approved a similar provision in November 2017 that would extent the proposed exemption to larger projects.

The bill also proposes a provision reversing a June 2015 Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision resulting from a lawsuit brought by the Cottonwood Environmental Law Center. The Cottonwood decision held that the USFS must reconsult with the Fish and Wildlife Service on endangered species recovery plans when new agency actions are taken. The proposed provision would exempt all plans less than 15 years old and all ESA listing less than five years old.

Finally, the wild-fire provisions include additional wildfire suppression appropriations and renew the SRS timber receipts county payments program, which expired after fiscal year 2015, for an additional two years.