From U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Resources
Chairman Richard Pombo
For
Immediate Release
November 13, 2003
Long, Devastating Road to Healthy Forests
Senate Democrats must stop playing politics and appoint conferees
Washington, DC - It took six months and a catastrophic wildfire for the Senate to pass the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, even after the House overwhelming approved it in May. Now, with the California fires extinguished, Senate Democrats are once again obstructing passage of this critical legislation by refusing to appoint conferees and send the bill to President Bush.
Recent history offers a very compelling case on the need for reform, as well as the House's comprehensive efforts to achieve common-sense solutions to the nation's forest health crisis.
*Since 1997, the Resources Committee has passed the Healthy Forests Restoration Act twice, held 73 official meetings on Healthy Forests-related issues (both full committee and the subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health), and 32,811,288 acres have burned.*
The Long Road to Healthy Forests (by year):
*2003*
3,815,952 acres burned (as of Nov 10th)
3 Subcommittee Field Hearings
2 Full Committee Field Hearings
1 Full Committee Markup
March 7, 2003 Subcommittee Field hearing on "Crisis on the National Forests: Containing the Threat of Wildland Fire to the Environment and Communities" Flagstaff, AZ
April 30, 2003 Committee Action *RESOURCES COMMITTEE PASSES BILL*
Full Committee Markup of Committee Print "Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003"
May 20, 2003 *US HOUSE PASSES BILL 256-170*
July 2, 2003 Full Committee Field hearing on "Management Challenges on Montana's National Forests" Seeley Lake, MT
August 25, 2003 Full Committee Field hearing on "Crisis on our National Forests: Reducing the Threat of Catastrophic Wildfire to Central Oregon Communities and the Surrounding Environment" Bend, OR
September 22, 2003 Subcommittee Field hearing on "Forest Health Crisis in San Bernardino National Forest" Lake Arrowhead, CA
October 27, 2003 Subcommittee Field hearing on "Forest and Rangeland Health in Nevada's Great Basin" Ely, NV
November 6, 2003 - *HOUSE APPOINTS CONFEREES*
*2002*
7,182,979 acres burned
1 Subcommittee Field Hearings
4 Subcommittee Hearings
2 Full Committee Hearings
3 Full Committee Markups
March 12, 2002 Subcommittee Oversight hearing on "FY'03 FS Budget"
May 1, 2002: Full Committee Oversight hearing on: The Future of the United States Forest Service.
May 22, 2002: (Committee Action) Full Committee Markup of: H. Con. Res. 352 (Mr. Pombo) Expressing the sense of Congress that Federal land management agencies should fully implement the Western Governors Association "Collaborative 10_year Strategy for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment" to reduce the overabundance of forest fuels that place national resources at high risk of catastrophic wildfire, and prepare a National Prescribed Fire Strategy that minimizes risks of escape.
June 12, 2002 Subcommittee Oversight hearing on "Process Gridlock on the National Forests"
July 11, 2002 Subcommittee Oversight hearing on "Wildfire on the National Forests: An update on the 2002 Wildland Fire Season"
September 5, 2002
Full Committee Hearing
on: The Committee will discuss the President's Healthy Forests: An Initiative
for Wildfire Prevention and Stronger Communities
H.R. 5319: To improve the capacity
of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Interior to expeditiously
address wildfire prone conditions on National Forest System lands and Department
of Interior lands that threaten communities, watersheds, and other at-risk
landscapes through the establishment of expedited environmental analysis
procedures under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the
establishment of a predecisional administrative review process for certain
Forest Service projects and for other purposes.
(The Healthy Forests Reforms Act of 2002)
H.R. 5214: To authorize
and direct the Secretary of Agriculture to take actions to promptly address the
risk of fire and insect infestation in National Forest System lands.
(National Forest Fire Prevention Act)
H.R. 5319: To authorize
the Regional Foresters to exempt tree-thinning projects, which are necessary to
prevent the occurrence of wildfire likely to cause extreme harm to the forest
ecosystem, from laws that give rise to legal causes of action that delay or
prevent such projects.
(Wildfire Prevention and Forest Health
Protection Act of 2002)
September 12, 2002 (Committee Action) Full Committee Markup H.R. 5319: (Mr. McInnis) To improve the capacity of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to expeditiously address wildfire prone conditions on National Forest System lands and other public lands that threaten communities, watersheds, and other at-risk landscapes through the establishment of expedited environmental analysis procedures under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, to establish a predecisional administrative review process for the Forest Service, to expand fire management contracting authorities, to authorize appropriations for hazardous fuels reduction projects, and for other purposes. "Healthy Forests Reform Act of 2002"
September 28, 2002 Subcommittee Field hearing on "Interagency Cooperation in Wildland Fire Fighting" Show Low, AZ
October 3, 2002 (Committee Action) Full Committee Markup on H.R. 5319 (Mr. McInnis) To improve the capacity of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to expeditiously address wildfire prone conditions on National Forest System lands and other public lands that threaten communities, watersheds, and other at-risk landscapes through the establishment of expedited environmental analysis procedures under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, to establish a predecisional administrative review process for the Forest Service, to expand fire management contracting authorities, to authorize appropriations for hazardous fuels reduction projects, and for other purposes. "Healthy Forests Reform Act of 2002"
October 10, 2002 Subcommittee Legislative Hearing on: H.R. 5102, To expedite the process by which the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture may utilize aircraft to fight wildfires, and for other purposes. H.R. 5185, To remove a restriction on the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to enter into agreements with any Federal agency to acquire goods and services directly related to improving or using the wildfire fighting capability of those agencies.
*2001*
3,570,225 acres burned
6 Subcommittee Hearings
1 Full Committee Markup
March 8, 2001: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on the "National Fire Plan"
Printed Hearing Serial No. 107-3 in HTML, TEXT, or PDF (97 pages).
March 28, 2001: Full
Committee Markup on
H.R.581, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
Agriculture to use funds appropriated for wildland
fire management in the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2001, to reimburse the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service to facilitate the interagency
cooperation required under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 in connection with
wildland fire management.
April 3, 2001: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on "Developing Economic Uses for Forest Fuels" Printed Hearing Serial No. 107-13 in TEXT, or PDF (51 pages).
May 15, 2001: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on the "Views and Vision of Dale Bosworth" Printed Hearing Serial No. 107-28 in TEXT or PDF (38 pages).
July 31, 2001: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on the "National Fire Plan Implementation" Printed Hearing Serial No. 107-56 in TEXT, or PDF
November 7, 2001: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on the: Views and Visions of Mark Rey"
December 4, 2001: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on "Conflicting Laws and Regulations"
*2000*
7,393,493 acres burned
1 Subcommittee Field Hearing
9 Subcommittee Hearings
1 Subcommittee Markup
February 15, 2000: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on Funding of Environmental Initiatives and their impacts on local communities
Printed Hearing Serial No. 106-87 in HTML, TEXT, or PDF
March 2, 2000: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on FS Planning Rule Revision
March 14, 2000: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on FS Road Management Policy
March 28, 2000: Subcommittee Legislative hearing on HR 4021, to authorize a study to determine the best scientific method for the long term protection of CA's giant sequoia groves. The Giant Sequoia Groves Protection and Management Act of 2000
April 4, 2000: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on the Effects of the New Forest Service Rules on National Forest Recreation
April 11, 2000: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on the Integration of Eco-region Assessments in FS Plans
May 11, 2000: Subcommittee Legislative hearing on S.1288, to provide incentives for collaborative forest restoration projects on National Forest System and other public lands in New Mexico and for other purposes. Community Forest Restoration Act
May 16, 2000: Subcommittee Markup on S.1288, to provide incentives for collaborative forest restoration projects on National Forest System and other public lands in New Mexico and for other purposes. Community Forest Restoration Act
June 7, 2000: Subcommittee Joint Oversight hearing with National Parks Subcommittee Fire Management on Federal lands
August 14, 2000: Subcommittee Field hearing on Preventing Wildfires through Proper Management of the National Forests Albuquerque, NM
September 21, 2000: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on the Future of the USFS
*1999*
5,661,976 acres burned
4 Subcommittee Field Hearing
1 Full Committee Field Hearing
9 Subcommittee Hearings
February 9, 1999: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on Chairman's Draft "The Community Protection and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Act".
Printed Hearing Serial No. 106-3 in HTML, TEXT, or PDF (125 pages).
February 13, 1999: Subcommittee Oversight Field hearing on Targhee National Forest Road Closures. Rexburg, Idaho
Printed Hearing Serial No. 106-8 in HTML, TEXT, or PDF (164 pages).
February 23, 1999: Subcommittee Oversight hearing FY2000 budget request of the Forest Service. Printed Hearing Serial No. 106-7 in HTML, TEXT, or PDF
March 16, 1999 Subcommittee Oversight hearing on Committee on Science - National Forest Planning Printed Hearing Serial No. 106-15 in HTML,
March 23, 1999: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on Chairman draft, "Federal Forests Emergency Act of 1999" Printed Hearing Serial No. 106-19 in HTML,
April 22, 1999: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on Chairman's Draft "forest roads, Community Right to Know Act" H.R.1523, to establish mandatory procedures to be followed by the FS and the BLM in advance of the permanent closure of any forest road so as to ensure local public participation in the decision making process
May 18, 1999: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on Public and Private Resources Management and Protection Issues in the National Forest System
June 21, 1999: Subcommittee Joint Field hearing with Transportation & Infrastructure on Oversight, Investigations and Emergency Management Ormond Beach, FL
June 29, 1999: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on GAO report: Western National Forests; a cohesive strategy is needed to address catastrophic wildfire threats
Printed Hearing Serial No. 106-42 in HTML,
July 10, 1999 Subcommittee Field hearing reviewing the serious health conditions on the Malheur National Forest John Day, OR
July 22, 1999: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on Forest Management for Wildlife Habitat
August 30, 1999: Subcommittee Field hearing to examine the SD Environmental Impact Statement for the Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery Act Redding, CA Printed Hearing Serial No. 106-61 in HTML
September 14, 1999 Subcommittee Oversight hearing on GAO report: Federal wildfire Activities: Current Strategy and Issues Needing Attention
November 3, 1999: Full Committee Oversight hearing on: Proposal by the Administration directing U.S. Forest Service to promulgate regulations regarding roadless areas within the National Forest System.
*1998*
2,329,704 acres burned
2 Subcommittee Field Hearing
8 Subcommittee Hearings
1 Full Committee Hearing
2 Subcommittee Markups
1 Full Committee Markup
February 25, 1998: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on: Clinton-Gore Administration's Forest Service Roadless Area Moratorium. (Part I. See Part II March 17, 1998). (See also Committee on Resources Majority Staff Memo Roadless Forests - Clinton/Gore Roadless National Forests Policy.) Transcript - Printed Hearing Serial No. 105-72 in HTML, TEXT, or PDF (363 pages).
March 5, 1998: Subcommittee Markup on: H.R. 2458, Community Protection and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Act of 1997, to provide new authority to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to safeguard communities, lives, and property from catastrophic wildfire by eliminating hazardous fuels buildup, and to undertake other forest management projects to protect noncommodity resources, on Federal lands where wildlands abut, or are located in close proximity to, urban areas. Ordered Reported to Full Committee as amended by voice vote.
March 17, 1998: Subcommittee Legislative hearing on: H.R. 3297to suspend the continued development of a roadless area policy on public domain units and other units of the National Forest System pending adequate public participation and determinations that a roadless area policy will not adversely affect forest health and; Oversight Hearing on: Follow up on the Clinton-Gore's Forest Service Roadless Area Moratorium.(Part II. See Part I February 25, 1998).
Transcript - Printed Hearing Serial No. 105-72 in HTML, TEXT, or PDF (363 pages).
March 19, 1998: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on: Impact and Status of Northern Spotted Owl on National Forests.
Transcript - Printed Hearing Serial No. 105-79 in HTML, TEXT, or PDF (75 pages).
March 24, 1998: Subcommittee Hearing on: H.R. 3467, to address the protection of the California spotted owl and its habitat in the Sierran Province of Region 5 of the Forest Service through the use of an interim management direction consistent with the requirements of existing public land management and environmental laws and by setting a date certain for the completion of a final environmental impact statement for the management of the California spotted owl.
March 25, 1998: Full Committee Markup on: H.R. 3297, to suspend the continued development of a roadless area policy on public domain units and other units of the National Forest System pending adequate public participation and determinations that a roadless area policy will not adversely affect forest health. Ordered reported as amended by vote of 18-14.
March 26, 1998 Full Committee Hearing on: Management of the US Forest Service.
Transcript - Printed Hearing Serial No. 105-82 in HTML, TEXT, or PDF (187 pages).
April 14, 1998: Subcommittee Oversight Field hearing on Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project. Boise, Idaho
Transcript - Printed Hearing Serial No. 105-88 in HTML, TEXT, or PDF (533 pages).
April 23, 1998: Subcommittee Markup on H.R. 3467, to address the protection of the California spotted owl and its habitat in the Sierran Province of Region 5 of the Forest Service through the use of an interim management direction consistent with the requirements of existing public land management and environmental laws and by setting a date certain for the completion of a final environmental impact statement for the management of the California spotted owl. Ordered reported to Full Committee by voice vote.
May 14, 1998: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on: Forest Health in the Rocky Mountain West
August 4, 1998:
Subcommittee Oversight
hearing on: Fire Suppression
Transcript - Printed Hearing Serial
No. 105-110 in
HTML,
TEXT, or
PDF (238 pages).
August 15, 1998: Subcommittee Oversight Field hearing on Forest Service Management of the National Forests in Northern New Mexico Espanola, New Mexico
Transcript - Printed Hearing Serial No. 105-107 in HTML, TEXT, or PDF (98 pages).
September 15, 1998: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on: Forest Roads Management and Obliteration
September 28, 1998: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on: General Accounting Office Study on Forest Health
*1997*
2,856,959 acres burned
1 Subcommittee Field Hearing
6 Subcommittee Hearings
2 Full Committee Hearings
1 Subcommittee Markup
1 Full Committee Markup
March 5, 1997: Subcommittee
Hearing on:
H.R. 858, Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery and Economic Stability Act of
1997.
Transcript - Printed Hearing Serial No.
105-10 in
HTML,
TEXT, or
PDF (76 pages).
March 18, 1997: Subcommittee
Oversight hearing on: Management for our Nation's forests and
criteria for determining healthy forests.
Transcript - Printed Hearing Serial No. 105-6
in
HTML,
TEXT, or
PDF (128 pages).
April 9, 1997: Full
Committee Joint hearing with the House Committee on Agriculture
regarding Forest Ecosystem Health in the United States.
Transcript - Printed Hearing
Serial No. 105-1. Not Available TEXT or PDF versions.
April 17, 1997: Subcommittee Oversight hearing held on: Forest Service budget.
April 24, 1997: Subcommittee Markup held on: H.R. 858, Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery and Economic Stability Act of 1997. Ordered reported to Full Committee as amended by vote of 4-2.
April 29, 1997: Subcommittee Oversight hearing on Forest Health, Ecology and Management.
May 21, 1997: Full Committee Markup on: H.R. 858, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a pilot project on designated lands within Plumas, Lassen, and Tahoe National Forests in the State of California to demonstrate the effectiveness of the resource management activities proposed by the Quincy Library Group and to amend current land and resource management plans for these national forests to consider the incorporation of these resource management activities. Ordered reported, amended by voice vote.
July 31, 1997:
Subcommittee Oversight
hearing held on: Forest Service Strategic Plan under the
Government Performance and Results Act.
Transcript - Printed Hearing Serial No.
105-47 in
HTML,
TEXT, or
PDF (129 pages).
September 13, 1997: Subcommittee Oversight Field hearing on: Management of the Stanislaus National Forest. Sonora, California
September 23, 1997
Subcommittee Hearing
on,
H.R. 2458, to provide new authority to the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of the Interior to safeguard communities, lives, and property from
catastrophic wildfire by eliminating hazardous fuels buildup, and to undertake
other forest management projects to protect noncommodity
resources, on Federal lands where wildlands abut, or
are located in close proximity to, urban areas.
Printed Hearing Serial No. 105-62
in
HTML,
TEXT, or
PDF (103 pages).
September 30, 1997
Full Committee Oversight
hearing on: The issues surrounding use of fire as a management
tool and its risks and benefits as they relate to the health of the National
Forests and the Environmental Protection Agency's National Ambient Air Quality
Standards.
Transcript - Printed Hearing Serial No.
105-45 in
HTML,
TEXT, or
PDF (144 pages).
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov