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http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/doolittle200310310828.asp
Behind the Inferno
Bad policy fuels California's wildfires
By Representative John T. Doolittle
11/1/03
In California, where overzealous environmentalism
often trumps common sense, our forests are suffering
from rampant disease and destruction. In just a
matter of days, over 600,000 acres of Southern
California's forests have been reduced to mere ashes
due in part to overgrown forests that have been
infected by the largest bark-beetle infestation in
the last 50 years. Due to decades of mismanagement,
the thinning of these forests remains largely
unpracticed within our state, leaving forests that
historically contained just 30 to 40 trees per acre,
now filled with 300 to 400 trees per acre. As the
events of this week have demonstrated, the gross
mismanagement of our state's forests has literally
created a perfect storm for wildfires.
This week's record blazes have destroyed thousands
of homes, and killed 20 people and counting. While
southern California is just beginning to assess the
damage from the recent fire destruction, northern
California has learned firsthand the aftermath of
these catastrophic fires. Just two years ago, the
Star Fire in the Eldorado and Tahoe National Forests
destroyed over 16,800 acres of public and private
land in my congressional district alone.
Unfortunately, like those in southern California,
our northern California forests remain one escaped
campfire short of exploding into yet another massive
blaze due to hazardous fuels and overly dense
forests.
Our current forest policies have allowed 190 million
acres of federal land to remain at a dangerously
high risk of catastrophic wildfire, insect
infestation, and disease. As a result, last year
alone, American taxpayers spent over $1.6 billion
fighting record-setting blazes due to overgrown
forests. Furthermore, lengthy bureaucratic processes
have added to this smoldering danger, as they have
kept the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) from being able
to fully manage our forests. Just recently, the USFS
testified that while treatment of an important
project was held up in a three-year, 800-step
decision-making process, a record-setting wildfire
eviscerated large swaths of landscape and caused
enormous damage to the natural environment as well
as to a number of communities. Despite the plea from
the National Volunteer Fire Council to "reduce the
threats from catastrophic wildfire, insect
infestations and disease," federal land managers can
only treat about 2.5 million acres out of 190
million each year due to these often unnecessary
bureaucratic processes. It is clear that if nothing
is done to resolve these management issues
immediately, the entire state of California, and
vast western areas will continue to face the threat
of catastrophic wildfire year in and year out.
Sadly, while southern California continues to burn,
the U.S. Senate continues to delay consideration on
a critical piece of legislation that would help
resolve California's situation. The Healthy Forests
Restoration Act, which passed the U.S. House of
Representatives earlier this year, addresses this
crisis by offering balanced, science-based solutions
to ensure that more acres, homes, and — most
importantly — lives are saved. This bill allows
forests to be purposefully thinned, making them less
susceptible to devastating fires, like the ones we
are experiencing now. Furthermore, it is guided by
the belief that excessive bureaucratic procedures
can be streamlined without unduly infringing on
public participation. Forest management projects
would still be subject to rigorous environmental
analysis as well as administrative challenges and
lawsuits. The difference is, these multiple
processes would be completed in a matter of months,
rather than years. The Healthy Forests Restoration
Act would also combat emerging forest health
problems by emphasizing local control and giving
forest managers most familiar with the
vulnerabilities of a specific area the lead in
managing that ecosystem.
As we watch the hillsides of California burn out of
control, it has become all too apparent that we can
no longer afford to let poor policy fuel wildfires.
Our forests and communities are in desperate need of
comprehensive legislation that will reduce hazardous
fuels, treat existing health threats, conserve
wildlife habitat, and develop new techniques to
fight forest pests and disease. By allowing another
fire season to approach without the Healthy Forests
Restoration Act, we leave billions of dollars,
hundreds of thousands of acres of land, and
priceless lives in peril.
— U.S. Rep. John T. Doolittle has served in the
House of Representatives since 1991. He is secretary
of the House Republican Conference.
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