WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), joined with Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), John Thune (R-SD), and Steve Daines (R-MT) to formally introduce S. 2068, the Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2017.
The legislation will enhance forest management to more effectively mitigate the severity of catastrophic wildfires. The bill will also provide increased protections for wildlife habitat threatened by wildfires. On Oct. 23, 2017, the senators released a discussion draft of the legislation.
“In the West, we know the widespread destruction wildfires can cause," said Barrasso. “Catastrophic fires have taken lives, destroyed homes, and devastated species. The bill we are introducing will make it simpler for local leaders to do fire-prevention projects. Forest managers need the flexibility to remove excess brush and dead wood that fuel these destructive wildfires. These fires have lasting impacts long after the flames have been put out. Our bill is a commonsense way to help protect both communities and wildlife."
"I'm thrilled to see continued progress with this important legislation. Wildfire continues to decimate Western communities, ruining sources of drinking water, destroying property, and even claiming lives," Hatch said. “I believe this proposal will strengthen the Forest Service's ability to engage in wildfire prevention, which carries the added benefit of improving wildlife habitat. It is imperative that we to return to a more balanced approach to forest management, not just fire management. I am confident that this bill will help foster safer, healthier forests in Utah and across the West for years to come."
“After nearly a quarter century of very-limited-to-hands-off forest management, federal forest fire suppression costs have continued to grow," said Thune. “We must take immediate steps to improve the health of our nation's forestland and be more aggressive and proactive in forest management. I believe this legislation offers several common-sense solutions that would help solve our problem of declining forest health by allowing land management professionals to use more 21st Century land management techniques. Efficient and effective land management makes forests more resilient and better able to withstand fire, pests, and diseases. This bill, which includes provisions I've previously introduced that would greatly expand categorical exclusions and measures to reduce litigation risk, is an important step in the right direction."
“We have had one of the most devastating fire seasons this year across the West and in Montana," said Daines. “We need forest management reform now to reduce the severity and intensity of wildfires and create more good-paying jobs."
Specifically, the Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2017 will:
* Statutorily reverse the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit's Cottonwood decisions by codifying the position taken by the Obama administration that federal agencies are not required to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at a programmatic level when new critical habitat is designated or a new species is listed;
* Direct the Department of Interior (DOI) to create a categorical exclusion (CE) for certain sage-grouse and mule-deer habitat vegetation projects that address areas affected by the encroachment of invasive pinyon and juniper trees;
* Direct the Department of Agriculture to create a CE for immediate action in critical response situations due to disease and insect infestations, threats to watersheds, and other high-risk areas;
* Call for streamlined environmental review for ecosystem restoration projects by requiring the U.S. Forest Service to consider only two alternatives during the planning process: an "action" alternative, and a "no action" alternative;
* Establish or modify CEs for wildlife habitat improvement, forest thinning, and insect and disease infestation; and
* Establish a five-year pilot arbitration process to allow alternative dispute resolution for forest activities that will result in binding decisions not subject to judicial review.
Background Information:
On Sept. 27, 2017, the EPW committee held a hearing on “Forest Management to Mitigate Wildfires: Legislative Solutions."
On Oct. 25, 2017, the EPW Committee held a legislative hearing on the discussion draft entitled Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2017.
A broad group of stakeholders have voiced support for the Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2017. Local leaders, conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts and others have outlined their support for the legislation.
Stakeholders who support the legislation include:
Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts
Wyoming County Commissioners Association
Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation
Wyoming Stock Growers Association
Wyoming Wool Growers Association
Agribusiness and Water Council of Arizona
Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Forest Resource Council
American Loggers Council
American Woodcock Society
Archery Trade Association
Associated California Loggers
Associated Logging Contractors of Idaho
Associated Oregon Loggers
Association of California Water Agencies
Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
Association of O&C Counties
Black Hills Forest Resource Association
Black Hills Regional Multiple Use Coalition
Boone and Crockett Club
California Forestry Association
Campfire Club of America
Colorado River Water Conservation District
Colorado Timber Industry Association
Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation
Conservation Force
Court Boice, Curry County Commissioner
Delta Waterfowl
Family Farm Alliance
Federal Forest Resource Coalition
Forest Resources Association
Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association
Hardwood Federation
Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities
Houston Safari Club
Idaho Forest Group
Intermountain Forest Association
Michigan Forest Products Council
Minnesota Forest Industries
Minnesota Timber Producers Association
Missouri Forest Products Association
Montana Logging Association
Montana Wood Products Association
Mule Deer Foundation
National Alliance of Forest Owners
National Association of Counties
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
National Shooting Sports Foundation
National Water Resources Association
National Wild Turkey Federation
New Mexico Forest Industry Association
North America Grouse Partnership
Oregonians for Food and Shelter
Oregon Farm Bureau
Oregon Cattlemen's Association
Oregon Women In Timber
Pennsylvania Forest Products Association
Pheasants Forever
Placer County Water Agency
Professional Logging Contractors of Maine
Public Lands Council
Quail Forever
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Ruffed Grouse Society
Salt River Project
Sierra Cascade Logging Conference
Sierra Pacific Industries
South Tahoe Public Utility District
Southern Oregon Timber Industries Association
Tennessee Wildlife Federation
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Treated Wood Council
Utah Association of Counties
Washington Forest Protection Association
Washington Hardwoods Commission
West Virginia Loggers Council
Whitetails Unlimited
Wild Sheep Foundation
Wildfire Forever
Wildlife Management Institute
Wildlife Mississippi
