South OC Times

The House Committee on Natural Resources has moved forward with the Restoring Our Unopened Trails for Enjoyment and Safety (ROUTES) Act, a legislative effort spearheaded by U.S. Representatives Young Kim and Doug LaMalfa. The bill, identified as H.R. 6994, aims to enhance the maintenance of federal trails, roads, campgrounds, and recreation sites affected by natural disasters.

The ROUTES Act mandates that damaged National Forest areas be restored and reopened within two years following a disaster. To facilitate this timeline, certain restoration activities such as trail renovation and hazard tree removal would bypass lengthy environmental assessments.

Natural Resources Federal Lands Subcommittee Chairman Tom Tiffany is among the original cosponsors of the bill.

Congresswoman Young Kim highlighted the challenges faced by Forest Service Rangers due to limited staff and resources: “Significant shortages of staff and resources make our Forest Service Rangers’ jobs harder as they work around the clock to manage forests and protect public safety.” She emphasized that the ROUTES Act will assist federal land management in prioritizing resources for damaged sites like those impacted by recent wildfires in Cleveland National Forest.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa underscored the importance of swift restoration: “This legislation ensures trails and recreation areas damaged by natural disasters are restored quickly and reopened safely. It’s about cutting red tape, holding agencies accountable, and keeping our public lands open for everyone to enjoy.” He expressed hope that the bill would pass before year-end.