This Executive Order is a big deal.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/eo-promoting-active-management-americas-forests-rangelands-federal-lands-improve-conditions-reduce-wildfire-risk/?fbclid=IwAR0exv1hfIbt0cTGxGrNm_Ri0hY1fAVh9CsOOIGLjOJLaJ5gY0Lh6ijEIxA
(Some current projects are only 10,000 acres that are included in the Farm Bill.)
These numbers mean President Trump is serious about cleaning up the Forest issues and reducing the risk of catastrophic wild fires. The EnvironMentalists are going to lose their minds. :)
Excerpt from the EO
A) Treating 3.5 million acres of Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS) lands to reduce fuel load;
(B) Treating 2.2 million acres of USDA FS lands to protect water quality and mitigate severe flooding and erosion risks arising from forest fires;
(C) Treating 750,000 acres of USDA FS lands for native and invasive species;
(D) Reducing vegetation giving rise to wildfire conditions through forest health treatments by increasing health treatments as part of USDA’s offering for sale at least 3.8 billion board feet of timber from USDA FS lands;”
HOW WILL HE GET THIS DONE?? From the EO-MY EMPHASIS ADDED.
“(c) In conjunction with establishment of goals, and by no later than March 31, 2019, the Secretaries shall identify salvage and log recovery options from lands damaged by fire during the 2017 and 2018 fire seasons, insects, or disease.
Sec. 3. Coordination and Efficient Processes. Effective Federal agency coordination and efficient administrative actions and decisions are essential to improving the condition of America’s forests, rangelands, and other Federal lands. To advance the policies set forth in this order and the goals set by the Secretaries, the Secretaries shall:
(a) Coordinate with the heads of all relevant Federal agencies to PRIORITIZE and PROMPTLY implement post-wildfire rehabilitation, salvage, and forest restoration;
(b) STREAMLINE agency administrative and regulatory processes and policies relating to fuel reduction in forests, rangelands, and other Federal lands and forest restoration when appropriate by:
(i) Adhering to minimum statutory and regulatory time periods, to the maximum extent practicable, for comment, consultation, and administrative review processes related to active management of forests, rangelands, and other Federal lands, including management of wildfire risks;
(ii) Using ALL applicable categorical exclusions set forth in law or regulation for fire management, restoration, and other management projects in forests, rangelands, and other Federal lands when implementing the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
(iii) Consistent with applicable law, developing and using NEW CATEGORICAL exclusions to implement active management of forests, rangelands, and other Federal lands; and
(iv) Immediately PRIORITIZING efforts to reduce the time required to comply with consultation obligations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).”
This could really help us turn the tide on the activists who have stopped forest management for years. There is more in the EO but I have Christmas cookies to make. If anyone feels like digging, I wonder what other Christmas gifts President Trump left us in the form of EO’s??
Excellent Post!
I live in the PNW and for years we breathe smoke for months and worry about fires reaching us, often a few miles away.
THANK YOU PRESIDENT TRUMP!
Place marker.