H.R. 184 · In committee · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Action Versus No Action Act

Sponsor: Tom McClintock (R-CA)

What it does

• Limit environmental assessments and impact statements for forest management on public lands to two alternatives: the proposed activity or no action.
• Apply the restriction to forest management that occurs in insect and disease treatment areas, involves collaborative planning, is proposed by resource advisory committees, or aligns with community wildfire protection pla
• Require the Forest Service and Interior Department to evaluate no-action effects on forest health, wildfire potential, insect and disease risk, and timber production.
• Mandate consideration of no-action consequences on life, property loss, water supply, wildlife habitat, and economic and social factors.

Official summary

Action Versus No Action Act This bill limits the scope of an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS) conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for forest management activity on certain public lands to only the following two alternatives: (1) the effects of the forest management activity, and (2) no action. The bill applies to any EA or EIS prepared by the Forest Service or the Department of the Interior for a forest management activity on public land that is suitable for timber production and that occurs on land designated as an insect and disease treatment area under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, is developed through a collaborative process, is proposed by a resource advisory committee, or is covered by a community wildfire protection plan. In the case of the alternative of no action, the Forest Service or Interior must consider whether to evaluate the effect of no action on forest health, potential losses of life and property, habitat diversity, wildfire potential, insect and disease potential, and timber production; and the implications of a resulting decline in forest health, loss of habitat diversity, wildfire…

Latest action

Sep 15, 2026: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 21 - 17.

Committee: House Natural Resources