Forest Resources Accountability Act

Key Points

• This bill stops a plan to build a year-round paved road and utility lines through a specific part of the White River National Forest in Colorado. The main goal is to protect the area where wildlife lives during the winter months.
• The bill highlights that the Forest Service lost 6,000 employees in 2025. Because of these staffing cuts, the agency has completed 40 percent fewer projects to reduce wildfire risks and 22 percent fewer trail maintenance projects across the country.
• Instead of building new roads, the government would only allow access to private property using small, unpaved roads that already exist. These roads would only be open during certain seasons to prevent damage to the forest.
• The bill encourages the government to buy private land located inside the forest from owners who are willing to sell. If the land is purchased, it will be added to the national forest system to be protected for future generations.
• It requires the Forest Service to focus its limited resources on the most important tasks. These include reducing the risk of big wildfires, protecting clean drinking water, and keeping wildlife habitats healthy.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.