Placer County California

News Release

For Immediate Release April 6, 2006
Contacts: Bruce Kranz 530/ 889-4010
Roger Canfield 916/ 961-6718

Wildfire Prevention Bill Passes Key Panel
Placer Sup. Kranz, cautiously optimistic

COLFAX- The House Resources Committee recently voted 25-13 to pass a measure designed to accelerate the removal and sale of sale of dead and damaged trees after a wildfire.

"HR 4200 will prevent future catastrophic wildfires, save lives, property and habitat for fish and wildlife," said Placer County Supervisor Bruce Kranz. Kranz gave the example of the 2.500-acre Gap Fire off Interstate 80 near Emigrant Gap.

"Half the fire was on private property and was cleaned up at a profit from salvageable trees in two months. On burned public lands trees were left to rot and insects causing a $1.35 million loss and requiring the spending of $739,000 in taxpayers money."

"The Gap Fire work could have paid for itself, but for bureaucratic and environmental delays.' And if we allow the Forest Service to do its job, taxpayers are off the hook too," said Kranz.

Kranz said, "Faster cleanup will allow harvesting salvageable timber, provide revenue to pay for replanting trees, and save taxpayers money." Kranz said it might also provide future opportunities for use of woody waste for energy production. The measure seeks to quickly restore burned forests to health, assist in the recovery of non-federal forests and revitalize the Forest Service experimental forests.

Kranz led Placer County efforts to formally support the measure called the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act, authored by Rep. Greg Walden, (R-ORE) whose district in Oregon also suffers from wildfires.

The measured passed out of House committee on Resources on March 29 with votes to spare. It still must pass two more panels, House Agriculture and House Transportation and Infrastructure before reaching the floor of the House sometime in May.

"I do nor foresee any difficulties. The bill enjoys 147 co-sponsors in the House. That's a good sign. There may be problems in the Senate," said Kranz.

A companion measure S 2079 is authored by Sen. Gordon Smith, (R-ORE). Both measures follow on the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, also dealing with severe forest conditions in a timelier manner.

Home > Board of Supervisors > District 5 > Press Releases > Press Releases 2005 > Wildfire Prevention Bill Passes Key Panel
	News Release For Immediate Release April 6, 2006 Contacts: Bruce Kranz 530/ 889-4010 Roger Canfield 916/ 961-6718 Wildfire Prevention Bill Passes Key Panel Placer Sup. Kranz, cautiously optimistic COLFAX- The House Resources Committee recently voted 25-13 to pass a measure designed to accelerate the removal and sale of sale of dead and damaged trees after a wildfire. "HR 4200 will prevent future catastrophic wildfires, save lives, property and habitat for fish and wildlife," said Placer County Supervisor Bruce Kranz. Kranz gave the example of the 2.500-acre Gap Fire off Interstate 80 near Emigrant Gap. "Half the fire was on private property and was cleaned up at a profit from salvageable trees in two months. On burned public lands trees were left to rot and insects causing a $1.35 million loss and requiring the spending of $739,000 in taxpayers money." "The Gap Fire work could have paid for itself, but for bureaucratic and environmental delays.' And if we allow the Forest Service to do its job, taxpayers are off the hook too," said Kranz. Kranz said, "Faster cleanup will allow harvesting salvageable timber, provide revenue to pay for replanting trees, and save taxpayers money." Kranz said it might also provide future opportunities for use of woody waste for energy production. The measure seeks to quickly restore burned forests to health, assist in the recovery of non-federal forests and revitalize the Forest Service experimental forests. Kranz led Placer County efforts to formally support the measure called the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act, authored by Rep. Greg Walden, (R-ORE) whose district in Oregon also suffers from wildfires. The measured passed out of House committee on Resources on March 29 with votes to spare. It still must pass two more panels, House Agriculture and House Transportation and Infrastructure before reaching the floor of the House sometime in May. "I do nor foresee any difficulties. The bill enjoys 147 co-sponsors in the House. That's a good sign. There may be problems in the Senate," said Kranz. A companion measure S 2079 is authored by Sen. Gordon Smith, (R-ORE). Both measures follow on the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, also dealing with severe forest conditions in a timelier manner.