WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Interior Department has finalized environmental-review exemptions for timber salvage and forest-thinning projects covering up to 5,000 acres, accelerating federal land-management work as wildfires burn more than 7.4 million acres nationwide.
The two categorical exclusions allow the Bureau of Land Management to undertake qualifying projects without completing the more extensive environmental reviews typically required under the National Environmental Policy Act.
The changes apply to routine efforts to remove dead, dying and excess trees, including salvage operations after wildfires and thinning projects intended to reduce hazardous vegetation.
Interior officials contend the streamlined procedures will shorten project timelines, reduce administrative costs and help protect communities, firefighters and public lands from additional fires.
The measures take effect as the national wildfire response system operates at its highest readiness level and available federal firefighting resources have been exhausted, according to the department.
Fires have burned more than 2.7 million acres of Bureau of Land Management property this year, compared with an average of 236,530 acres annually since 2000.
Across all jurisdictions, more than 7.4 million acres have burned this year, exceeding the 7.3 million-acre annual average recorded since 2000.
The new exclusions could also expand timber recovery and support rural economies by accelerating projects on federal land after fire, drought, insect infestations or disease.
Categorical exclusions apply to activities federal agencies have determined do not typically produce significant environmental impacts, eliminating the need for a full environmental assessment or impact statement for qualifying projects.
“These categorical exclusions remove unnecessary delays so we can accelerate common-sense forest management projects that reduce hazardous fuels, strengthen forest health and resilience, and better protect firefighters, communities and our public lands from catastrophic wildfire,” Interior Deputy Secretary Kate MacGregor stated.
The department indicated that the previous administration removed certain Bureau of Land Management timber-harvesting authorities in late 2024.
The categorical exclusions will be published in the Federal Register.
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