[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 103 (Thursday, July 25, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1349-E1350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES IMPLEMENT 
  WESTERN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION ``COLLABORATIVE 10-YEAR STRATEGY FOR 
   REDUCING WILDLAND FIRE RISKS TO COMMUNITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT''

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. JOHN R. THUNE

                            of south dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 22, 2002

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res 352, a 
resolution expressing the Sense of Congress to fully implement the 
Western Governors Association ``Collaborative 10-year Strategy for 
Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment'' and 
to prepare a National Prescribed Fire Strategy that minimizes risks of 
escape.
  More than 7.4 million acres burned during the 2000 wildfire season--
equivalent to a three-mile-wide swath from Washington, D.C. to Los 
Angeles, California and back--destroying 861 structures, killing 16 
firefighters and costing the federal government $1.3 billion in 
suppression costs. Upon completion of the 2001 wildfire season, 81,681 
fires burned 3,555,138 acres, which threatened rural communities 
nationwide and killed 15 firefighters. To date, the 2002 fire season 
has consisted of 50,168 fires burning 3,632,508 acres.
  In South Dakota the Black Hills National Forest has had several small 
fires this fire season. We have been fortunate that firefighters have 
been able to contain the fires quickly and that very few structures 
have been burned. However, I am concerned about the future of the Black 
Hills and the other public lands in the West.
  According to the General Accounting Office, ``the most extensive and 
serious problem related to the health of national forests in the 
interior West is the over-accumulation of vegetation, which has caused 
an increasing number of large, intense, uncontrollable and 
catastrophically destructive wildfires. According to the U.S. Forest 
Service, 39 million acres on national forests in the interior West are 
at high risk of catastrophic wildfire.''
  It is clear that this is a result of poor forest management 
decisions. Because of years of litigation in the Black Hills, the 
Beaver Park Area of the forest is under high risk of wildfire. The 
mountain pine beetle epidemic has killed thousands of trees in this 
area which is fuel for a large crown fire waiting to happen. The Forest 
Service has had their hands tied by litigation and have not been able 
to control this problem.
  Also, in the Black Hills, the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve is also at 
risk because of considerable over-growth of ponderosa pine. The dry 
weather conditions in conjunction with the over-growth is a concern to 
all that live and work in the Black Hills. This area is only a few

[[Page E1350]]

miles from Mt. Rushmore, where summer attendance averages 25,000 daily.
  Thank you for the opportunity to speak to this issue. The time is now 
for Congress to express its concern for the future of our public lands 
and the risk of wildfire in the West.

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