Forest Resources Accountability Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8061
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-24: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-09T20:50:58Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Forest Resources Accountability Act (H.R. 8061) aims to protect critical winter wildlife habitat in a specific area of the White River National Forest in Colorado by prohibiting new road construction or related projects that could harm the environment. It emphasizes prioritizing Forest Service resources amid staffing shortages for essential tasks like wildfire prevention and trail maintenance.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Federal land: Specific sections (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 of T. 4 S., R. 82 W.) in the White River National Forest.
- Parcel: A 680-acre private inholding (land surrounded by national forest) known as Berlaimont Estates.
- Record of decision: A March 2023 Forest Service document approving the Berlaimont Estates Access Road.
- Secretary: Secretary of Agriculture, who oversees the Forest Service.
- Access Restrictions:
- Access to private inholdings must use only existing, unpaved, seasonal routes under special use permits with strict environmental protections.
- Prohibitions:
- Bans approval of easements, permits, or authorizations for utility corridors or year-round roads as described in the 2023 record of decision or similar projects.
- Prohibits use of federal funds for planning, constructing, or considering such roads.
- Existing Roads: Allows continued use of pre-existing Forest Service roads by the agency, parcel owners, and the public, per current laws.
- Land Acquisition:
- Directs the Secretary to acquire the parcel from willing sellers via purchase, exchange, or donation, coordinating with Colorado, Eagle County, and local land trusts.
- Requires a report to Congress within 180 days on acquisition efforts.
- If acquired, the parcel becomes part of the national forest for wildlife conservation and public recreation.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Overrides the March 2023 record of decision by blocking the proposed year-round access road and similar developments.
- Introduces mandatory, prioritized acquisition of a specific private parcel, shifting from prior access approvals to conservation focus.
- Limits federal funding and authorizations for road projects in the defined area, prioritizing Forest Service staffing for higher-need activities like fire risk reduction.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Forest Service must redirect limited staff (noted 6,000-job cut in 2025) from road projects to wildfires, trails, wildlife, and water protection; requires new reporting and acquisition efforts.
- Citizens and Local Communities: Restricts development access to private inholdings, protecting habitat but potentially limiting property owners' options; enhances recreation and conservation for public users.
- Environment: Preserves winter wildlife habitat by preventing road-related disturbances like habitat fragmentation.
- No direct impacts on international relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Forest Service / Department of Agriculture: Primary implementer, faces new prohibitions and acquisition duties.
- Berlaimont Estates Parcel Owner: Restricted road access options; potential seller in acquisition process.
- State of Colorado, Eagle County, and Local Land Trusts: Partners in land acquisition; benefit from conservation goals.
- Wildlife, Recreation Users, and Taxpayers: Gain protected habitat and prioritized forest management; federal funds saved from road projects.
- Congressional Committees: Receive required reports (Senate Energy and Natural Resources; House Natural Resources).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Directly nullifies elements of a prior administrative decision (record of decision), enforcing stricter environmental controls on federal land management under laws like the National Forest Management Act (special use permits ensure enforceable protections).
- Constitutional: Balances federal authority over public lands with private property access rights (inholdings have guaranteed "reasonable access" under laws like the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, but bill limits it to seasonal routes).
- Political: Highlights tensions between conservation priorities and private development amid agency resource constraints; promotes collaborative state-federal land acquisition without eminent domain (willing sellers only).
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-24: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-03-24: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Forest Resources Accountability Act — issued 2026-03-24 — PDF (6 pages)