text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Scenic Columbia Gorge Restoration 
  Act of 2017''.
  
  SEC. 2. EXPEDITED RECOVERY ACTIVITIES IN RESPONSE TO CATASTROPHIC 
                EVENTS IN NATIONAL SCENIC AREAS.
  
      (a) Definitions.--In this section:
              (1) Catastrophic event.--The term ``catastrophic event'' 
          means any natural disaster (such as hurricane, tornado, 
          windstorm, snow or ice storm, rain storm, high water, wind-
          driven water, tidal wave, earthquake, volcanic eruption, 
          landslide, mudslide, drought, or insect or disease outbreak) or 
          any fire, flood, or explosion, regardless of cause.
              (2) Conclusion.--The term ``conclusion'', with respect to a 
          catastrophic event, includes containment of the catastrophic 
          event if occurring before the actual end of the catastrophic 
          event.
              (3) National scenic area.--The term ``National Scenic 
          Area'' means an area of the National Forest System federally 
          designated as a National Scenic Area in recognition of the 
          outstanding natural, scenic, and recreational values of the 
          area.
              (4) Response activity.--The term ``response activity'' 
          means any salvage operation or reforestation activity proposed 
          to be conducted within a National Scenic Area adversely 
          impacted by a catastrophic event to address conditions caused 
          or exacerbated by the catastrophic event.
              (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
      (b) Prompt Proposal of Response Activities.--Within 30 days after 
  the conclusion of a catastrophic event within a National Scenic Area, 
  the Secretary shall begin proposing response activities for lands 
  within the National Scenic Area adversely impacted by the catastrophic 
  event.
      (c) Public Input and Response Process.--Notwithstanding any other 
  provision of law, the Secretary shall allow 30 days for public scoping 
  and comment regarding a National Scenic Area response activity, 15 days 
  for filing an objection to the response activity, and 15 days for the 
  agency response to the filing of an objection. Upon completion of this 
  process and expiration of the period specified in subsection (d)(1) if 
  applicable, the Secretary shall implement the response activity.
      (d) Environmental Review.--
              (1) Expedited environmental assessment.--Except as provided 
          in paragraph (2), notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
          an environmental assessment prepared by the Secretary concerned 
          pursuant to section 102 of the National Environmental Policy 
          Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332) for a National Scenic Area 
          response activity shall be completed within 60 days after the 
          conclusion of the catastrophic event.
              (2) Categorical exclusion.--A categorical exclusion is 
          available for any National Scenic Area response activity that--
                      (A) does not exceed 10,000 acres within the 
                  National Scenic Area; and
                      (B) includes lands that--
                              (i) are visible from key viewing areas, as 
                          described in the management plan for the 
                          National Scenic Area;
                              (ii) provide screening for human 
                          development;
                              (iii) are part of a municipal watershed; or
                              (iv) contain utility or power transmission 
                          right-of-ways.
      (e) Consultation Under the Endangered Species Act.--
              (1) No consultation if response activity not likely to 
          adversely affect a listed species or designated critical 
          habitat.--Consultation under section 7 of the Endangered 
          Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536) shall not be required if 
          the Secretary determines that a response activity is not likely 
          to adversely affect a listed species or designated critical 
          habitat.
              (2) Expedited consultation.--
                      (A) In general.--With respect to a response 
                  activity that is not covered by paragraph (1), 
                  consultation required under section 7 of the Endangered 
                  Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536) shall be concluded 
                  within the 90-day period beginning on the date on which 
                  such consultation was requested by the Secretary.
                      (B) Effect of no conclusion.--In the case of a 
                  consultation described in subparagraph (A) that is not 
                  concluded within the 90-day period specified in such 
                  subparagraph, the response activity for which such 
                  consultation was initiated--
                              (i) shall be deemed to have not violated 
                          section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
                          (16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)); and
                              (ii) may be carried out.
      (f) Prohibition on Restraining Orders, Preliminary Injunctions, and 
  Injunctions Pending Appeal.--No restraining order, preliminary 
  injunction, or injunction pending appeal shall be issued by any court 
  of the United States with respect to any decision to prepare or conduct 
  a response activity. Section 705 of title 5, United States Code, shall 
  not apply to any challenge to the response activity.
      (g) Funding Source.--Amounts in the special fund established 
  pursuant to section 3 of the Act of June 9, 1930 (commonly known as the 
  Knutson-Vandenberg Act; 16 U.S.C. 576b), shall be available to the 
  Secretary for response activities.
      (h) Reforestation Objective.--In the case of response activities 
  conducted on National Scenic Area lands adversely impacted by a 
  catastrophic event, the Secretary shall achieve reforestation of at 
  least 75 percent of the impacted lands before the end of the two-year 
  period following the conclusion of the catastrophic event.
target: Scenic Columbia Gorge Restoration Act of 2017 This bill directs the Forest Service to begin proposing, within 30 days of a catastrophic event, response (salvage operations or reforestation) activities for lands within a national scenic area that have been adversely impacted by the event.   The bill provides a process for expedited environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, including a categorical exclusion not exceeding 10,000 acres for a response activity.      
feat_title: Scenic Columbia Gorge Restoration Act of 2017