President Bush Signs Healthy Forests Restoration Act into Law

• On December 3, 2003, President Bush signed into law the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to reduce the threat of destructive wildfires while upholding environmental standards and encouraging early public input during review and planning processes. The legislation is based on sound science and helps further the President’s Healthy Forests Initiative pledge to care for America’s forests and rangelands, reduce the risk of catastrophic fire to communities, help save the lives of firefighters and citizens, and protect threatened and endangered species.
• The Healthy Forests Restoration Act:
• Strengthens public participation in developing high priority forest health projects;
• Reduces the complexity of environmental analysis allowing federal land agencies to use the best science available to actively manage land under their protection;
• Provides a more effective appeals process encouraging early public participation in project planning; and
• Issues clear guidance for court action against forest health projects.
• The Administration and a bipartisan majority in Congress supported the legislation and are joined by a variety of environmental conservation groups.