TORCH Act

Summary

Targeted Operations to Remove Catastrophic Hazards Act or the TORCH Act This bill establishes requirements concerning forest management on federal land, including provisions to expedite the approval of forest management activities. Specifically, it expands exclusions from environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for certain forest management activities, including by directing the Forest Service to develop a categorical exclusion for forest management activities that mitigate the risks associated with high-priority hazard trees. A categorical exclusion is a class of actions that a federal agency has determined do not significantly affect the quality of the human environment and, thus, do not require an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement. The bill also exempts the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management from the requirement to reinitiate consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 on an approved, amended, or revised land management plan when (1) a new species is listed or critical habitat is designated, or (2) new information reveals that the land management plan may affect a listed species or critical habitat in a manner or to an extent not previously considered. It also creates and modifies requirements related to vegetation management practices and forest management activities, such as activities to reduce wildfire risks. For example, the bill modifies the treatment of certain revenue under good neighbor agreements, which allow federal agencies to partner with state and local governments to carry out certain restoration services.

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Timeline

1. 3 January 2025

   Introduced

   Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 3 January 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 3 January 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 4 April 2025

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

2 official files

• Introduced in House

  Introduced in House · EN · 3 January 2025

  DownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 3 January 2025

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Doug LaMalfa · R · Sponsor
• · hsag00 · Standing
• · hsii00 · Standing

Related records

• related to ← FIR Act
• related to ← Grazing for Wildfire Risk Reduction Act
• related to ← TORCH Act