N.M. Senators' Bill to Help Prevent Wildfires Clears First Hurdle

Press Release

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today approved legislation sponsored by U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici to restore the nation's forests. The full Senate can now consider the measure.

The senators' bill, the Forest Landscape Restoration Act of 2008 (S. 2593), would undertake large-scale national forest restoration projects with an eye toward reducing wildfires, restoring ecosystems and creating jobs. Bingaman and Domenici are the chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Specifically, S. 2593 authorizes $40 million annually for landscape-scale forest restoration projects that cover 50,000 acres or more. Competitive grants would be awarded to restoration projects that are developed in collaboration with local communities. Eligible projects must be in need of ecosystem restoration, utilize the best-available science, encourage the use of restoration byproducts such as woody biomass, and be located primarily on National Forest System land.

"The Trigo Fire is just one example of why our legislation is so badly needed. We have given far too little attention to preventing wildfire and helping local economies through forest restoration. And each year, wildfires get bigger and more expensive to fight," Bingaman said. "Our bill would direct millions of dollars annually to the important task of improving the health of our nation's forests and forest communities."

"We have approved a stronger bill to assist communities and federal land managers address forest health issues across large forest landscapes. I am excited about the prospect of this bill clearing the Senate and that the House of Representatives has a nearly identical bill that it will consider," Domenici said. "We only have to examine our forests and observe the catastrophic fires of the past decade to understand that our land managers need additional tools to help manage these lands. I believe S.2593 is a big step in the right direction."

Conceptually, this bill is similar to the Community Forest Restoration Act, legislation Bingaman wrote and Domenici supported. As a result of the measure, which was enacted in 2000, millions of dollars have been invested in small-scale forest restoration projects in New Mexico. This legislation, developed by the New Mexico lawmakers with California Senator Dianne Feinstein, would allow the state to compete for much bigger grants and treat significantly larger pieces of land. Other cosponsors include Senators Wayne Allard (R-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Larry Craig (R-ID), Ken Salazar (D-CO), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Patty Murray (D-WA).

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