Sen. Murkowski: Federal Government's Failure on Forest Management is Hurting AlaskaHolds Kenai Field Hearing to Examine Options for Federal Government to Better Serve Alaska

Press Release

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, held a field hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in Kenai to examine the challenges and impacts of federal regulations and wildfire management on outdoor recreation, hunting and fishing opportunities, and tourism on public lands on the Kenai Peninsula. Tuesday's hearing follows Murkowski's release of draft legislation that would end the destructive practice of fire-borrowing and promote better management of Alaska's national forests.

"The federal government's current practices are a terrible deal: we are losing our forests to insects, disease, and wildfires, and that is putting local communities at both physical risk and economic disadvantage," Murkowski said. "Moving forward, the issues of wildfire funding and federal forest management must be addressed to ensure improved health and resilience of Alaska's forests."

Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, sought input from Alaskans on how the federal government can better fulfill its duty to manage federal forests to prevent wildfires and end the practice of fire-borrowing for the benefit of Alaska.

Mr. John "Chris" Maisch, State Forester and Director of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, pointed to a specific provision in bipartisan draft legislation recently released by Murkowski and four of her Senate colleagues that would help with wildfire efforts in the state.

"The suggested efforts at streamlining the NEPA analysis for priority projects that address wildland fire issues to a limited set of alternatives, perhaps a no action and the recommended action are good suggestions and will streamline the process saving both time and funding for planning staff, since additional alternatives should not be required," Maisch said.

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