Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015 Goes to the House Floor

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (front left) watches Thursday as another member presents Westerman’s bill on removing obstacles to thinning national forests to avoid forest fires. PHOTO: Sarah D. Wire, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015, HR2647, was sent to the House floor on a nearly party line 22-15 vote out of the House Natural Resources Committee.

The bill would streamline environmental analyses, discourage litigation and limit the use of preliminary injunctions to make it easier for the U.S. Forest Service to execute management plans that include removing trees or brush, or selectively burning some areas to generate new growth. Read the full article here.