S 480119th CongressIn Committee

Timber Harvesting Restoration Act of 2025

Introduced: Feb 6, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Timber Harvesting Restoration Act of 2025 requires certain forest supervisors of National Forest System units that are underperforming in timber sales to prepare and submit a harvesting improvement report to the Secretary of Agriculture (through the Chief of the Forest Service). A unit is considered “covered” if the actual timber sold in the prior fiscal year is not more than two-thirds of its allowable sale quantity (ASQ). The report must identify areas where harvesting could be increased and outline actionable steps, with broad consultation from private industry, advisory committees, state/local/tribal governments, and stakeholder groups. After submission, progress must be demonstrated within a year; if performance reaches at least 75% of the ASQ, no further reports are required; if not, another report is due within 180 days of the progress review. The Secretary may direct resources to underperforming units to boost harvests, including staff, expanding Good Neighbor Authority agreements, and expediting environmental reviews. The Secretary can waive the requirement in cases such as natural disasters.

Key Points

1Definitions critical to scope:
2- Allowable sale quantity (ASQ) is the max timber volume potentially sold in a unit over a 10-year period.
3- Covered NFS unit is a unit whose actual timber sold last year is ≤ 2/3 of its ASQ.
4- Harvesting improvement report is the required document filed under this act.
5Mandatory harvesting improvement reports:
6- Due within 180 days after enactment for each covered NFS unit.
7- Must identify areas to increase timber sales and actionable steps to achieve that increase.
8- Must involve consultation with private industry, advisory committees, state/local/tribal governments, and relevant stakeholder groups.
9- Secretary must notify each forest supervisor within 30 days whether they must file a harvesting improvement report.
10Implementation timeline:
11- Accepted actionable steps must be demonstrated within 1 year of enactment.
12- The Secretary will review progress 1 year after the report’s submission.
13- If sales reach more than 75% of ASQ, no further reports are required for that unit.
14- If sales are not more than 75% of ASQ, another harvesting improvement report must be submitted within 180 days after the review.
15Supporting measures:
16- The Secretary may allocate resources to underperforming units to boost timber sales, including adding personnel, expanding Good Neighbor Authority agreements, and expediting environmental reviews where feasible.
17Waiver provision:
18- The Secretary can waive the requirement for a unit if there is a plausible reason (e.g., natural disaster) for lack of progress toward increasing timber sold.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Forest Supervisors and units of the National Forest System whose past timber sales fall at or below two-thirds of their ASQ (i.e., underperforming units).Secondary group/area affected- Timber industry participants, private sector partners, advisory committees, state/local/Tribal governments, and relevant stakeholder groups who are consulted during report preparation.Additional impacts- Potential shift in forest management emphasis toward increasing timber harvests, with accompanying changes in staffing, cooperation agreements (Good Neighbor Authority), and streamlined environmental review processes.- Increased federal oversight and accountability for timber sale performance in covered units.- Possible cost and resource implications for the Forest Service to provide staff and support to underperforming units, balanced by potential economic benefits from higher timber sales.

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