La Grande Observer - Walden Takes Issue with U.S. Senate

News Article

By Chuck Anderson

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, rapped the U.S. Senate and environmental groups Tuesday for failing to require government agencies to manage publicly owned forests to minimize fire danger.

Walden, the lone Republican in Oregon's Congressional delegation, told approximately 50 community leaders, ranchers and others at a town hall meeting in Enterprise that the current wildfires "are dangerous, devastating and shouldn't be occurring at this level" of intensity.

He had spent the last few days touring areas where wildfires are burning, including Canyon City and Baker City.

Government agencies don't have necessary tools to manage the forests, and even when they do design a program, environmental groups use the legal process to stop it, the congressman said.

"When they do get a plan put together, it is litigated, appealed, delayed and oftentimes fire goes through before they ever get on the ground," he noted. "All those things need to be changed."

Walden has championed legislation to allow thinning and clearing of forests to reduce the danger of wildfire, including the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, the Healthy Forests Initiative and segments of other bills.

He said the forestry bill passed this year by the House Representatives would address several issues, including requiring a bond before an organization could litigate to appeal a law or government action on forest management.

"I dont know about you, but I think those who would shut everything down have a little skin in the game," he said of environmentalists. "If they don't like that, that's their problem. I don't like what they do."

Walden's dislike of the environmental movement was echoed by county commisioner Paul Castilleja.

"The environmentalists are constantly suing the hell out of the citizens about their right to use their resources," Castilleja told Walden.

Walden told the town hall audience that for the third year in a row, the House has passed legislation to change how forests are managed and give local communities more voice in the process. This year's forestry bill also would have the Federal Emergency Management Agency pay firefighting costs that exceed the U.S. Forest Service budget.

"To be frank with you, I can't get any help out of the Senate," Walden said. "We're trying to get it dislodged and move forward. We've got to turn the heat up."

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