[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 73 (Friday, June 9, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         FOREST EMERGENCY RECOVERY AND RESEARCH ACT (H.R. 4200)

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                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 9, 2006

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to 
the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act (H.R. 4200). This 
legislation rolls back responsible forest management practices and 
threatens to undermine vital environmental protections.
  Proponents of H.R. 4200 claim that the bill would ensure prompt 
implementation of recovery measures in Federal forests following 
weather events such as wildfires and hurricanes by expediting the 
evaluation of forest conditions and accelerating the recovery of downed 
and damaged timber. But in reality, the legislation aggressively 
auctions off public resources to private interests in the name of 
responsible stewardship. It goes too far in promoting the economic 
value of harvesting timber over the ecological benefits of preserving 
trees.
  Proponents of H.R. 4200 use the words ``recovery'' and 
``restoration'' to excuse logging practices that will slow the recovery 
of forests, streams and wildlife. Forest scientists from 169 
universities across the country oppose this bill, arguing that no 
reliable evidence exists to support the assertion that fire-adapted 
forests might be improved by logging after a fire. These experts point 
to a series of studies that concluded just the opposite--that post-
disturbance logging impedes the process of regeneration by compacting 
soils, spreading invasive species, causing erosion and degrading water 
quality.
  Most outrageously, H.R. 4200 would degrade forest ecosystems by 
exempting ``salvage logging'' activities from the environmental 
protections guaranteed in the National Environmental Policy Act, the 
Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act. Through exemptions and 
waivers, H.R. 4200 offers a blank check to pollute waters and harm 
endangered wildlife.
  H.R. 4200 is both unwise and unnecessary. The success of the timber 
salvage effort following Hurricane Katrina demonstrates that existing 
Federal laws do not prevent land managers from implementing timber 
recovery. Using their existing authority, the Forest Service and Bureau 
of Land Management quickly and effectively completed one of the largest 
timber salvage projects ever, recovering 676 million board feet of 
timber from the national forests in Mississippi impacted by the 
hurricane.
  When properly managed, timber harvesting is a necessary and 
appropriate use of our Federal forests. But careful environmental 
stewardship of our forest resources is needed today to ensure that 
genuinely healthy forests--with all the benefits they offer--will be 
available to future generations. H.R. 4200 falls dangerously short of 
this standard.

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