HR 6994 — ROUTES Act

6994 IntroducedReported in House (IH)](RH)] <DOC> 118thUnion CONGRESSCalendar 2dNo. Session H.

753 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H.

6994 To[Report requireNo. the reopening of covered recreation sites closed due to a natural disaster, and for other purposes.

118-921, Part I] To require the reopening of covered recreation sites closed due to a natural disaster, and for other purposes.

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 _______________________________________________________________________December A18, BILL2024 ToAdditional requiresponsor: the reopening of covered recreation sites closed due to a natural disaster, and for other purposes.

Mr.

Lawler December 18, 2024 Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] December 18, 2024 Committee on Agriculture discharged;

committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 16, 2024] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the reopening of covered recreation sites closed due to a natural disaster, and for other purposes.

(a) Reopening Required.--In the case of a covered recreation site that is fully or partially closed due to personal injury or damage caused by a natural disasterdisaster, (including hazard trees), the Secretary concerned shallshall-- (1) reopen such covered recreation site not later than 23 years after the date on which such natural disaster ends, as determined by the Secretary concerned.concerned;

and (2) if the covered recreation site is not reopened on or before the date described in paragraph (1), not later than 30 days after such date and every 90 days thereafter during which such site remains closed, submit to Congress a report identifying the barriers to reopening such site.

(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 managementland use plan applicable to such lands, to-- (A) repair and restore covered recreation sites damaged by a natural disaster;

(B) remove or mitigate hazard trees for the purpose of public safetysafety, protection of property, or improving access to a covered recreation site;

(c) Emergency Hazard Tree Removal.-- (1) National forest system lands.--With respect to the removal or mitigation of hazard trees located on a parcel of National Forest System lands,land, during the 2-year3-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 the removal and mitigation of hazard trees located on Interior recreational lands, during the 2-year3-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);(a)(1);

(1) Covered recreation site.--The term ``covered recreation site'' meansmeans-- (A) a trail,campground campground,or developed day-use recreation site,site orthat-- road(i) thatis is--operated (A)by locatedthe onSecretary Interiorconcerned; recreational lands or National Forest System lands;

and (B)(ii) operatedis bylocated theon SecretaryInterior concerned.recreational lands or National Forest System lands;

or (B) a road or trail that-- (i) is under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned;

(ii) used to access or serve a campground or developed day-use recreation site described in subparagraph (A);

and (iii) is located on Interior recreational lands or National Forest System lands.

(5) Natural disaster.--The term ``natural disaster'' includes a wildfire, flood, hurricane, windstorm, erosion, and tornado.

<all>Union Calendar No.

753 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H.

R.

6994 [Report No.

118-921, Part I] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the reopening of covered recreation sites closed due to a natural disaster, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________ December 18, 2024 Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment December 18, 2024 Committee on Agriculture discharged;

committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed