NEWS from
Congressman James V. Hansen, (1^st District - Utah)
Chairman, Committee on Resources; U.S. House of Representatives;
1324 Longworth House Office Building; Washington, D.C. 20515-6201; 202-225-2761
Website address: http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Marnie Funk (mailto:Marnie.Funk@mail.house.gov/ Tracey Lynn Shifflett (mailto:Tracey.Shifflett@mail.house.gov
(202) 226-9019

October 8, 2002

Resources Committee Passes H.R. 5319 as Amended by Reps. McInnis and Walden by a Bipartisan Vote of 23-14

Washington, D.C. - The House Resources Committee today approved H.R. 5319, The Healthy Forest Reforms Act of 2002, as amended by Forest & Forest Health Subcommittee Chairman Scott McInnis, R-CO, and Greg Walden, R-OR, by a vote of 23-14. Four Democrats - Rep. Brad Carson, Rep. Neil Abercrombie, Rep. Mark Udall and Rep. Calvin Dooley - voted for the bill.

The bill is the result of more than a month of negotiations between key Republicans and Democrats on the Resources Committee. Negotiations fell short of bipartisan sponsorship this week under pressure from environmental extremists.

“I would like to thank Reps. George Miller and Pete DeFazio for their earnest, good-faith negotiations these past weeks. We are close to a deal on this bill. I hope we can continue negotiating on the remaining issues between now and the time this bill goes to the floor.

“While I have been impressed with the sincerity and integrity of Mr. Miller and Mr. DeFazio, I have been deeply disappointed by the deliberate mischaracterization of the bill by some environmental groups, particularly the Sierra Club and the Wilderness Society.”

“The passage of this legislation today is a significant step forward in our effort to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire to our forests,” said Walden. “The wildfires that ravaged Oregon and much of the rest of the West this summer illustrated the urgent need to address the build up of hazardous fuels on our forest floors. I’m hopeful we can build on the agreement we’ve reached thus far in seeking to develop a solution that will ensure the long-term health of our forests.” 

The bill will expedite fuels reduction projects on National Forest lands and lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management to protect communities and water supplies. The expedited authorities established under the Act are limited to use on lands in the 1. wildland/urban interface, which is defined by density of homes and population density, 2. municipal watersheds where municipal water supplies are present, 3. habitat for threatened and endangered species, and 4. lands where the forest or rangeland health is threatened by windthrow, blowdown, large-scale disease or insect infestation

There is a limitation of 2 million acres per year that may be treated in the threatened and endangered species habitat and forest health categories. Of the total funds expended under this act, not less than 70% will be expended to treat the Wildland Urban Interface.

The agencies will be given the authority to develop only one proposed action, with no alternatives when preparing an Environmental Analysis. Scoping and public comment periods will continue as currently implemented. Currently, agencies consider 3 to 5 alternatives, which take considerable time and resources.

The appeals process will be limited to 50 days, reduced from the current process that runs at least 120 days. The person submitting an appeal must have submitted comments during the preparation stage of the project on the specific issue for which review of the project is sought.

Judicial review must occur in the US district court for the district in which the federal lands to be treated are located. Upon filing of a challenge the Secretary shall stay the project until the completion of the judicial review, including any appellate review. The district court review must be complete within 120 days.

The Comptroller General shall conduct an audit of the implementation of this Act to determine the success of the processes established under this Act and the hazardous fuels reduction projects implemented in achieving the purpose of this Act.

The Forest Service may enter into 15 stewardship contracts to implement this act. The BLM may enter into 26 stewardship contracts to implement this act.

The authorities established under this Act shall be available through September 30, 2007. Projects identified in the federal register by this date shall be completed under the processes established under this Act

Lands excluded are: wilderness areas, and lands where by Act of Congress or Presidential proclamation the removal of vegetation is prohibited or restricted. There will be no new roads in Inventoried Roadless Areas.

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