DeFazio Offers Amendment To Expedite Salvage Logging
DeFazio Offers Amendment To Expedite Salvage Logging
March 29, 2006
Press Release Contact: Danielle Langone (202) 225-6416
WASHINGTON, DC DCU.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield) today offered an amendment that would expedite salvage logging and better prepare for forest fires and other unexpected catastrophic events. The amendment was offered to the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act, H.R. 4200, during consideration of the bill by the House Committee on Resources. DeFazio predicted that in order for the bill to become law, changes will need to be made to the final version of the bill.
DeFazio's amendment helps ensure that our salvage policy is largely free of political meddling, and is based on peer-reviewed science and long term management goals, both of which are supported by expert testimony offered to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health by OSU College of Forestry Dean Dr. Hal Salwasser.
"My main fear with this legislation, in its current form, is that it gives extraordinarily broad discretion to the Secretary," DeFazio said. "I appreciate that some may want this administration's political appointees to have this broad authority, but when Congress grants such broad discretion, they grant it to all administrations, including future administrations who may or may not use these extraordinary discretionary powers wisely."
"Congress has a duty to set policy, not pass the buck to political appointees. My alternative would greatly expedite procedures for post-catastrophic fire salvage, but require us to be prescriptive and apply different rules to different categories of forest. My proposal would de-politicize the issue, rely on peer-reviewed science, and still protect rights of appeal. As a policy-making body, Congress should set some parameters and provide some direction for the Forest Service and other land managers, not give a blank check to political appointees," DeFazio said.
http://www.house.gov/defazio/032906EGRelease.shtml