“To prohibit a road construction project in the White River National Forest in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section states congressional findings that Forest Service staffing decreased by 6,000 employees between January 20, 2025, and December 31, 2025; that such reductions resulted in 40 percent fewer hazardous fuels reduction projects nationwide, 22 percent fewer trails maintenance projects nationwide, and significant reductions in science and research informing management of the agency's 193 million acres; and that limited staffing requires prioritizing projects addressing public needs such as (A) wildfire risk reduction, (B) forest treatments for insect and disease, (C) recreation opportunities including trail maintenance, (D) drinking water resources, (E) wildlife habitat, and (F) scientifically sound forest stewardship. The section declares the purpose of the Act to be protecting critical winter wildlife habitat on federal lands (as defined in section 3).
This section prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from approving any easement, special use authorization, or other authorization for a utility corridor or year-round road on specified federal land (sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33 of T. 4 S., R. 82 W.) in the White River National Forest in Colorado, as described in the March 2023 record of decision for the Berlaimont Estates Access Road or any substantially similar project. It limits access to inholdings within the federal land to existing (as of the record of decision date), unpaved, seasonal routes under special use permits that protect the National Forest System and bars use of federal funds for year-round roads or utility corridors accessing the 680-acre Berlaimont Estates parcel (while preserving access to existing Forest Service roads). It further directs the Secretary to acquire the parcel from willing sellers to the maximum extent practicable—coordinating with the State of Colorado, Eagle County, and local land trusts—and to submit a report on acquisition efforts to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources within 180 days of enactment; if acquired, the parcel is incorporated into the White River National Forest for wildlife conservation and public enjoyment.