WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Domenici applauds President George W. Bush and his Administration for President Bush’s enactment of the bipartisan Healthy Forests Restoration Act. President Bush signed the bill into law today. Domenici, as chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, was a member of the bipartisan team that crafted the bill to improve forest health and reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires by giving federal land managers more funding and power to carry out projects to decrease fuel loads, and control insects and disease in 20 million acres of national forest. Chairman Domenici’s Statement: “This new law represents years of effort to come up with a balanced, common-sense policy to make our forests safer and healthier. I am confident that the Administration and our federal agencies will make it a priority to implement this new law so that work can be done to protect the millions of acres of forest land in this nation that is now at risk for catastrophic fire. I intend to hold a series of hearings next summer and fall to review the progress in implementing this new law. “I want to congratulate President Bush for his vision in making this law a reality. It has been 25 years since Congress passed natural resources law of this magnitude. He called on Congress a year ago to move a healthy forest bill and his administration worked closely with Congress to get the job done. We did it. We now have the ability to work to reduce fire risk and improve the health of at least 20 million of the 190 million acres of at-risk federal forests. This is a great example of Congress working together in a bipartisan fashion to protect our great forests.” The bill signed by President Bush includes the following highlights:
· Prioritizes treatment of up to 20 million acres in the Wildland Urban Interfaces (forested areas around communities), as well as high risk areas outside the Wildland Urban Interface areas.
· Creates a 1.5 mile zone for each Wildlife Urban Interface.
· Mandates that 50 percent of funding in the bill will be dedicated toward Wildlife Urban Interface areas.
· Allows one environmental review, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), of proposed thinning projects within the defined zones around communities.
· Requires the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to “fully maintain, or contribute, toward the restoration” of old growth trees.
· Authorizes $760 million a year for hazardous fuel reduction work, including the projects authorized under this act, which is more than double current funding--$340 million.