Bill Summary
The "Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025" authorizes the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to allow electrical utilities to remove trees and vegetation around electrical lines on specific federal lands—namely National Forest System lands and Bureau of Land Management lands—without requiring a formal timber sale. This streamlining aims to enhance safety and reduce wildfire risks by ensuring that electrical corridors remain clear. The Act mandates that any proceeds from the sale of removed materials by the utilities must be shared with the respective federal agency, minus transportation costs. However, it does not compel utilities to sell the removed material. Overall, the legislation facilitates better management of forested areas in relation to electrical infrastructure while adhering to existing environmental laws.
Possible Impacts
The "Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2025" could affect people in several ways, including:
1. **Increased Safety from Wildfires**: By allowing electrical utilities to remove trees and vegetation around power lines without needing a timber sale, the legislation aims to reduce the risk of wildfires caused by electrical equipment. This could lead to enhanced safety for residents living near national forests and Bureau of Land Management lands, potentially saving lives and property from wildfire damage.
2. **Impact on Local Ecosystems**: The removal of trees and vegetation could affect local wildlife habitats and ecosystems. Communities dependent on these ecosystems for recreation, tourism, or natural resources might experience changes in biodiversity, which could alter their economic activities and quality of life.
3. **Economic Implications for Electrical Utilities**: The requirement for utilities to share proceeds from the sale of any removed material may incentivize them to conduct more vegetation management around power lines, creating potential job opportunities in the region for tree removal and maintenance. However, it may also lead to increased utility costs that could be passed on to consumers, affecting household budgets and energy prices.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2492 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2492
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 14, 2025
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the
Interior to permit removal of trees around electrical lines on National
Forest System lands and Bureau of Land Management lands, respectively,
without conducting a timber sale, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act
of 2025''.
SEC. 2. PERMITS AND AGREEMENTS WITH ELECTRICAL UTILITIES.
(a) In General.--In any special use permit or easement on covered
Federal lands provided to an electrical utility, the Secretary
concerned may provide permission to cut and remove trees or other
vegetation from within the vicinity of distribution lines or
transmission lines without requiring a separate timber sale, if that
cutting and removal is consistent with--
(1) any applicable land and resource management plan; and
(2) other applicable environmental laws (including
regulations).
(b) Use of Proceeds.--A special use permit or easement that
includes permission for cutting and removal described in subsection (a)
shall include a requirement that, if the applicable electrical utility
sells any portion of the material removed under the permit or easement,
the electrical utility shall provide to the Secretary concerned any
proceeds received from the sale, less any transportation costs incurred
in the sale.
(c) Effect.--Nothing in subsection (b) shall require the sale of
any material removed under a permit or easement that includes
permission for cutting and removal described in subsection (a).
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered federal lands.--The term ``covered Federal
lands'' means--
(A) National Forest System lands; and
(B) lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
(2) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned''
means--
(A) with respect to National Forest System lands,
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief
of the Forest Service; and
(B) with respect to lands managed by the Bureau of
Land Management, the Secretary of the Interior, acting
through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.
Passed the House of Representatives May 13, 2025.
Attest:
KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,
Clerk.