S. 480 — Timber Harvesting Restoration Act of 2025

This section establishes a harvesting improvement reporting process for forest supervisors of covered National Forest System (NFS) units—defined as those where actual timber sold in the fiscal year preceding enactment did not exceed two-thirds of the allowable sale quantity (ASQ, i.e., maximum volume available over a 10-year period from land suitable for timber production). Within 180 days of enactment (after Secretary notification within 30 days), each such supervisor must submit a report, developed in consultation with private industry, advisory committees, state/local/Tribal governments, and stakeholders, identifying areas and actionable steps to increase timber sales volume; within one year, the supervisor must demonstrate implementation to the Secretary's satisfaction. One year after report submission, the Secretary reviews progress; if sales exceed three-fourths ASQ, no further reports are required, but if at or below three-fourths ASQ, another report is due within 180 days, with the Secretary allocating resources to the unit—including additional personnel, expanded good neighbor agreements under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (16 U.S.C. 2113a, i.e., authority for states and counties to perform restoration services on federal lands), and expedited environmental reviews. (Thus, the process continues iteratively until sales exceed three-fourths ASQ.) The Secretary may waive requirements for plausible reasons, such as natural disasters.