[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[September 9, 1992]
[Page 1525]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 1525]]


White House Statement on Fire Danger in the Northwest
September 9, 1992

    The President today announced several actions that the 
administration will take to expedite salvage operations of dead or dying 
timber in the Northwest and Northern California in order to ease the 
growing fire danger in that region. Western States, particularly 
California, are experiencing one of the worst fire seasons in history. 
This summer alone, there have been over 70,000 wildfires that have 
destroyed approximately 1.7 million acres of forest and rangeland, 
burned over 1,200 homes and other buildings, and required the evacuation 
of over 35,000 people. Fire danger has been particularly acute due to 
the unusually large volume of timber that is dead or dying because of a 
7-year drought that also has exacerbated damage from insects and 
disease.
    The President has directed the Department of Agriculture and the 
Interior and all other appropriate Federal Agencies to expedite their 
existing timber salvage sales programs for those areas not falling 
within spotted owl habitat, where timber harvesting is prohibited by 
Federal court order. In addition, the Department of Agriculture will 
issue final regulations updating their policy and procedures for 
complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The final 
USDA regulation increases to 1.0 million board feet the amount of dead 
or dying trees which can be harvested in a single salvage project 
without having to prepare documentation under NEPA. Pursuant to NEPA and 
applicable regulations, USDA has determined that timber sales of this 
magnitude will have no significant environmental effect. In addition to 
reducing the danger from forest fires, the U.S. Forest Service estimates 
these actions will increase the timber harvest from these lands by 250 
to 450 million board feet for fiscal year 1993.