Posted on 07/06/2002 8:58:28 AM PDT by madfly
Udall calls for Hayman inquiry panel
Probe sought to ensure blaze won't be used to 'overlog,' build roads in forests to cut fire risk
By M.E. Sprengelmeyer, News Washington Bureau
June 27, 2002
WASHINGTON --
Rep. Mark Udall has called for a special panel to investigate the Hayman Fire so the case is not used to justify widespread logging of the nation's public forests.In a letter to U.S. Forest Service chief Dale Bosworth, Udall said a panel including forestry experts, environmentalists and logging industry officials should use the 137,000-acre blaze six miles northwest Lake George as a case study to steer policy.
The fear is that a less diverse panel, or the Forest Service alone, might use the case to expand routine fuel-reduction programs into widespread logging, said Udall spokesman Lawrence Pacheco.
"The Hayman Fire should not be used as an excuse to overlog and build roads in the forest to reduce fire risk," Pacheco said. "There can be lessons in the Hayman Fire, where proper treatment in the red zones can reduce fire risk and create a forest condition where fires can be more manageable, less destructive."
Various lawmakers have accused environmentalists of putting up unnecessary barriers to block fuels-reduction programs in the national forests and roadless areas.
One of the most outspoken critics is Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Grand Junction, chairman of the House subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
Josh Penry, staff director for McInnis' committee, said Udall's idea is worth considering.
"The more science, the more information, the better," Penry said. "But the overwhelming anecdotal evidence we're hearing from the field is that in those areas (where fuels-reduction programs were in place), the fire dropped to the ground and the fire was easier to contain."
As of Wednesday, the Hayman Fire was 77 percent contained but still burning in the Pike-San Isabel National Forest near Lake George.
A portion of the fire had burned in areas that had been treated with small fuels-reduction projects. Udall said that when the crisis is over, the panel could evaluate how the fire spread through treated and untreated areas.
"Its purpose would be to focus on the future, rather than to attempt to assign blame for past events," Udall wrote.
In other fire news out of Washington on Wednesday, McInnis introduced a bill he hopes will reduce red tape to let foreign governments lend their firefighters to the efforts in the United States.
A 1988 law allows federal officials to enter agreements with foreign organizations willing to send firefighters, but some countries have balked because they worry their firefighters could be sued in the event of an accident. McInnis' bill would have foreign firefighters considered federal employees, making the government liable for lawsuits.
These people lining up either as useful idiots for such policies ... or doing it with a will ... are domestic enemies of all we hold dear.
Bears repeating...very well said, my friend.
Brought to you by The People's Republic of Boulder
Thank an environmentalist for wiping out America's forests and natural resource jobs that would have boosted our economy.
But they'll blame it on Bush. BTW, I probably should also compare Boulder to Berzerkly......very similar too.
Hard to believe any of the Udall communists have the gall to even be able to speak of the damage created. I view this year's rounds of forest fires as " Pollution, and destruction, and mis-use of natural resources.....logging companies couldn't do this much damage to the woods in a 100 years!"
Thank an environmentalist for wiping out America's forests and natural resource jobs that would have boosted our economy.
Re this last part. The Oregon economy is one of the worst in the country. This was a stated goal of Andy Kerr, the head enviralist of Oregon a couple of years ago. The enviral poster boy Governor, Katznslobber agreed with him. The enviralists will not even allow dead trees killed in the enviral fires last year to be harvested. Eco terrorism is rampant in Oregon from the ALfs/ElFs and the anarchists who live and operate in the open in Eugene and Portland.
They will try to blame GW for what they have done to their state which started with the spotted owl hoax to stop logging about 2 decades ago.
Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!
Molon Labe !!
Stop the attacks by the wacko, extreme left-wing, enviro-nazis terrorist's on our Freedoms !!
Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!
Molon Labe !!
About $15,000 just from Sierra as listed.
Actually, when I lived in Tucson during the Mo Udall days, he was known as a liberal who would say one thing at home and vote the other way in congress. The local and national media tried to make him the "oh shucks," type of good ol boy, but anyone who used the term, "progressive" as much as he did made many people wary.
He was almost beaten one year by an ex-POW, but the local Republican party dropped the ball and didn't give Udall's challenger much support.
Mr. Udall is not interested in facts. He just wants to cover-up for those groups and policies that are the REAL blame here. Thanks for the PING.
There was a push from some inside the Democratic party to get Mo to run for President. In spite of his reputation for a quick wit, he was also rumored to be 'difficult', so the party bosses took a pass.
Oh, yeah. There's a bright idea. Include the people responsible for the whole mess on the panel trying to straighten things out.
This bozo just wants to make sure that nothing gets fixed, and that more forests (and houses) burn.
I have nothing but contempt for them and will outlive all of the useful idiots. To let you know my further disdain, show me where they're buried, my dog would like to salute their grave markers, as time will eventually get us all. Want to make sure satan brings them around to see the action(of the dog), because their actions sure won't impress anyone upstairs.
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