Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2025

This bill changes the Clean Water Act to say that when aircraft drop approved fire-fighting products during a wildfire, they do not need a water discharge permit. It applies only to products on the Forest Service’s current Qualified Products List. The goal is to make it faster and simpler to fight fires from the air without extra paperwork under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Wildland firefighters, air crews, and agencies that fight fires; communities in wildfire areas.
• What changes: No Clean Water Act discharge permit is required for aerial drops of fire-control products that are on the Forest Service’s approved list.
• When: Takes effect by changing the law’s permit rules once enacted.