BLM proposes expedited review of timber salvage and thinning projects

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BLM proposes expedited review of timber salvage and thinning projects

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WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Land Management is proposing two new categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act to speed up reviews for timber salvage and thinning projects on public lands. By streamlining efforts to remove excess timber and recover dead or dying trees, the initiative aims to reduce future wildfire risks and bolster rural communities and local economies.

Streamlined reviews help get more salvage and thinning projects underway quickly, supporting local mills, sustaining timber jobs and generating the forest products that many rural economies rely on. By improving forest health and reducing wildfire risk, these efforts also help protect the communities that depend on healthy, resilient forests.

"The Biden administration inexplicably stripped timber harvest authorities from the BLM late in 2024 with little explanation-just after our public lands endured one of the worst fire seasons in more than a decade," said Kate MacGregor, Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior. "Under President Trump's leadership, Interior proposes to restore these critical tools to clear dead and dying timber, protect lives and property and defend communities from the devastation of wildfire."

The proposed categorical exclusions would apply to routine timber salvage and thinning projects under 5,000 acres, replacing current limits on their use for salvage projects up to 250 acres and 70 acres for thinning projects. The categorical exclusions would allow the BLM to remove dead, dying, or overcrowded trees before it loses market value or becomes fuel for wildfires and to remove excess timber for active forest management, essential for long-term sustainability and reducing wildfire risks.

Over the past three decades, forests across the western United States have experienced landscape-scale die-offs caused by wildfire, insect infestations, disease, drought and other disturbances. These impacts have reshaped ecosystems and heightened wildfire risks. Since 2000, wildfires have burned an average of 7.3 million acres annually, with BLM lands seeing an average of 236,530 acres affected each year.

Categorical exclusions are categories of actions that have been determined to not typically have significant environmental impacts, eliminating the need to do a full environmental review. Streamlining National Environmental Policy Act compliance through categorical exclusions removes regulatory burdens and speeds up the process, saving time and resources.

Notices for proposed categorical exclusion for timber salvage and thinning projects will publish in Monday's Federal Register, which will initiate a 30-day comment period. Additional information is available at the timber salvage and timber thinning BLM National NEPA Register sites, where comments may be submitted through the "Participate Now" options until May 6, 2026.

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America's public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.