Root and Stem Project Authorization Act of 2022

Root and Stem Project Authorization Act of 2022

This bill authorizes the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to conduct certain forest restoration projects.

Specifically, the Forest Service or BLM may enter into an agreement for a project on federal land that was developed through a collaborative process that meets local and rural community needs if

• the party with whom it enters into an agreement initially provides the Forest Service or BLM with a portion of the funding necessary to complete any analysis deemed necessary under federal law for consideration of the proposed project;
• the Forest Service or BLM uses the funding to pay a contractor included on a list of contractors that it maintains to conduct the analysis;
• upon completion of the analysis, the Forest Service or BLM solicits bids to carry out the project and enters into a contract or agreement under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to carry out the project; and
• using certain receipts from the project, the Forest Service or BLM repays the initially provided funding.

For purposes of a civil action relating to such a project, any person that participated in the collaborative process to develop the proposal for the project shall be (1) entitled to intervene, as of right, in any subsequent civil action; and (2) considered to be a full participant in any settlement negotiation relating to the project.

The authority to enter into an agreement and the requirement to maintain a list of contractors shall expire on January 1, 2033.

Root and Stem Project Authorization Act of 2021

This bill authorizes the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to enter into a contract or agreement with another entity to conduct a Root and Stem project, which is a stewardship end result contracting project that

• is proposed prior to completion of the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; and
• satisfies certain requirements specified in this bill, including concerning environmental analysis and review.

The Forest Service and the BLM, in coordination with state and local stakeholders, shall

• identify areas well-suited to conduct Root and Stem projects, and
• issue requests for proposals for such projects.

Root and Stem projects shall be subject to judicial review in the same manner as authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects.