HR 3300119th CongressIn Committee

Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2025

Introduced: May 8, 2025

Environment & Climate

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2025 would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify that certain aerial discharges—specifically, those used for fire control and suppression—do not require a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The exemption applies only to discharges resulting from aerial application of fire-control products that are on the Forest Service’s Qualified Products List (QPL) or any successor list. In addition, the bill adjusts some cross-references and wording to align the exemption with existing permit provisions. The goal is to streamline and protect aerial firefighting operations while ensuring qualified products are used.

Key Points

1Exemption from NPDES permit: Discharges from aerial application of fire-control products are exempt from NPDES permit requirements, but only if the product appears on the Forest Service’s Qualified Products List (QPL) or successor.
2Qualified Products List: The exemption is restricted to products that are listed on the current QPL maintained by the Forest Service, ensuring that only specified, approved products are covered.
3Scope of the exemption: The change explicitly adds a new item to the types of discharges that are exempt, while preserving other existing permit requirements for discharges not on the QPL.
4Legislative cross-references: The bill updates and harmonizes references within the act (e.g., 505(a), subsection (p)(6), and related sections) to ensure the exemption is properly integrated into the permit framework.
5Title reflects purpose: The name emphasizes forest protection and firefighter safety, underscoring the intent to support wildfire response while maintaining oversight through approved product lists.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- Federal and state regulators administering NPDES permits and implementing the Clean Water Act.- U.S. Forest Service and wildfire suppression agencies utilizing aerial application of fire-control products.- Wildland firefighters and firefighting operations that perform aerial applications of approved products.Secondary group/area affected:- Manufacturers and suppliers of firefighting products listed on the Forest Service QPL, who may be impacted by the requirement that their products be listed to qualify for the permit exemption.Additional impacts:- Environmental accountability and water quality oversight remain tied to whether a product is on the QPL; products not on the list continue to be subject to standard NPDES permitting.- Potential changes in regulatory burden and operational efficiency for aerial firefighting missions, with a streamlined process for listed products.- Ongoing need for the Forest Service to maintain and update the QPL to reflect safety, efficacy, and environmental considerations.

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