Smith Secures Commitment from USDA to Complete Oregon Forest Health Projects
Suggests Possible Legislation to Speed Rehabilitation of Wildlife Habitat Destroyed by Fire
Washington, DC - Today, at a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Gordon Smith received assurances from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) of its continued commitment to rehabilitating habitat and restoring forest health to areas in Oregon devastated by wildfire.
"I have great hopes for projects authorized under the Healthy Forests Act," said Smith. "But we can't ignore the fact that millions of acres of forests have already been destroyed by fire in Oregon and are not covered by the Act."
In 2002, the Biscuit fire burned 500,000 acres in southern Oregon and cost taxpayers more than $150 million to fight. The largest fire in recorded Oregon history, it left 200,000 acres of old conifer forest habitats susceptible to being overtaken by brush for decades if left untouched. Currently, competing vegetation is becoming thick, blocking the next generation of forest from growing, while federal agencies face imminent lawsuits blocking their work at restoring the land.
Smith also referenced a recent letter he wrote to the U.S. Attorney General regarding the Metolius Basin Forest Management Project. He noted that for several years, the U.S. Forest Service worked with local environmentalists, foresters, and residents to reach an agreement to move the forest thinning project forward. The Project has been delayed by lawsuits and activists seeking to prevent Metolius' rehabilitation even as wildfire burned into the area, forcing the complete evacuation of Camp Sherman last summer. In his letter, Smith urged the U.S. Department of Justice to work expeditiously to ensure that the continued, but as yet unsuccessful, litigation does not compromise the integrity of the Project.
USDA Undersecretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Mark Rey assured Smith that the Forest Service and the other relevant federal agencies remain committed to restoring habitat and returning Oregon's forests to health. Rey further noted that while the appeals process is indeed delaying the projects, the Forest Service has been successful in each of the court battles waged this year.
"I'm optimistic that the Healthy Forests Act will be a great success in dealing with future fires," Smith said after the hearing. "At the same time, I will be monitoring the fire rehabilitation projects closely to decide whether we need to pass additional legislation that will address the needs of forests and habitats that have already been burned."
