US HB179

Requires the Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of the Interior to coordinate with impacted parties (local governments, tribal governments, fire departments, volunteer groups) when conducting forest management activities on National Forest System land

Mandates forest management activities achieve multiple ecosystem benefits including reducing forest fuels, maintaining biological diversity, improving wetland and water quality, and increasing climate resilience—unless costs are deemed excessive

Creates a categorical exclusion from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements for forest fuel reduction projects up to 10,000 acres (with no more than 3,000 acres of mechanical thinning) when developed in coordination with local officials and consistent with existing forest plans

Authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified entities for fuel reduction, erosion control, reforestation, and Stream Environment Zone restoration on both federal and non-federal land

Requires establishment of post-program ground condition criteria and monitoring for any ground disturbance caused by forest management activities