Placer County California

News Release

For Immediate Release April 19, 2006

Contacts: Bruce Kranz 530/ 889-4010

Roger Canfield 916/ 961-6718

Forest Service Supports Biomass Use of Hazardous Forest Fuels

Placer County Efforts Showing Progress

COLFAX- Placer County Supervisor Bruce Kranz has received support from the regional office of the U.S. Forestry Service for Placer County’s efforts to make economical use of forest fuels created by wildfires and cleanup around forest communities.

“I’m happy that we are making progress on trying to find a more economical means of protecting our communities, our wildlife and our water from devastating wildfires. In some cases costs to clean up dead trees and brush are prohibitive for the federal government as well as for hard pressed local communities,” said Kranz.

In a letter to Kranz, Bernard Weingardt, Regional Forester, of the Regional Office of the U.S Forest Service, said, “I am writing to express my support for the concepts put forth in your …Auburn Journal article… We clearly share common interests in reducing hazardous fuels around forest communities, and in doing so in the most environmentally sensitive and economically viable means possible. …{n]ew biomass facilities offers the possibility of new markets for the low value by products of fuels reduction.”

Kranz has led a Placer County effort to consider finding energy producing uses of fire and insect damaged trees and brush. It’s called biomass and can be burned or fermented into ethanol.

“Clean ups can prevent future catastrophic wildfires, save lives, property and habitat for fish and wildlife, but they are expensive,” said Placer County Supervisor Bruce Kranz.

Kranz uses the example of the 2,500-acre Gap Fire off Interstate 80 near Emigrant Gap to make his points.

“According to the studies of Forest Supervisor, Steve Eubanks, 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.”

In a recent action the Agricultural Committee of the House of Representatives added a provision for the Forest Service to consider biomass for energy production to HR 4200 seeking reduce delays in cleanups after wildfires. That bill’s sponsors are asking House leadership to bring the bill to a vote in May or June

Home > Board of Supervisors > District 5 > Press Releases > Press Releases 2005 > Forest Service Supports Biomass
	News Release For Immediate Release April 19, 2006 Contacts: Bruce Kranz 530/ 889-4010 Roger Canfield 916/ 961-6718 Forest Service Supports Biomass Use of Hazardous Forest Fuels Placer County Efforts Showing Progress COLFAX- Placer County Supervisor Bruce Kranz has received support from the regional office of the U.S. Forestry Service for Placer County’s efforts to make economical use of forest fuels created by wildfires and cleanup around forest communities. “I’m happy that we are making progress on trying to find a more economical means of protecting our communities, our wildlife and our water from devastating wildfires. In some cases costs to clean up dead trees and brush are prohibitive for the federal government as well as for hard pressed local communities,” said Kranz. In a letter to Kranz, Bernard Weingardt, Regional Forester, of the Regional Office of the U.S Forest Service, said, “I am writing to express my support for the concepts put forth in your …Auburn Journal article… We clearly share common interests in reducing hazardous fuels around forest communities, and in doing so in the most environmentally sensitive and economically viable means possible. …{n]ew biomass facilities offers the possibility of new markets for the low value by products of fuels reduction.” Kranz has led a Placer County effort to consider finding energy producing uses of fire and insect damaged trees and brush. It’s called biomass and can be burned or fermented into ethanol. “Clean ups can prevent future catastrophic wildfires, save lives, property and habitat for fish and wildlife, but they are expensive,” said Placer County Supervisor Bruce Kranz. Kranz uses the example of the 2,500-acre Gap Fire off Interstate 80 near Emigrant Gap to make his points. “According to the studies of Forest Supervisor, Steve Eubanks, 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.” In a recent action the Agricultural Committee of the House of Representatives added a provision for the Forest Service to consider biomass for energy production to HR 4200 seeking reduce delays in cleanups after wildfires. That bill’s sponsors are asking House leadership to bring the bill to a vote in May or June