SALINAS — Rep. Jimmy Panetta and Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced the Wildfire Emergency Act this week to reduce catastrophic wildfires in the western part of the United States.
The bill contains three primary provisions including forest restoration projects, critical infrastructure and energy flexibility, research and training, and help for disadvantaged communities.
“As wildfire seasons turn into wildfire years, we must take proactive measures now to protect our communities,” said Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, in a press release. “Our bicameral legislation will authorize much-needed funding to restore forests, support the creation of Prescribed Fire Centers, and spur workforce development programs that will train our next generation of forestry and fire management specialists. I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Feinstein to protect precious federal lands, like the Los Padres, from the continued threat of wildfires.”
Panetta is joined by California Reps. John Garamendi, Salud Carbajal, Josh Harder, Jim Costa, Lou Correa and Mike Thompson in introducing the House version of the legislation. Sens. Alex Padilla, D-CA, and Ron Wyden, D-OR, co-sponsored the Senate bill with Feinstein.
The Wildfire Emergency Act authorizes $250 million to fund a new U.S. Forest Service program to conduct large-scale forest restoration projects of up to 20 that are at least 100,000 acres each, enabling the agency to conduct landscape-scale projects, and providing it the ability to analyze and implement restoration actions on a far greater scale than in the past.
These forest restoration projects are designed to reduce potential wildfires by removing dead and dying trees, using controlled burns to reduce fire fuel, clearing out invasive and non-native plants and creating a better-suited habitat for wildlife and native species. The federal cost-share of each project is not to exceed 60%, which will require partnerships with state, local, water district and private-funding sources. The projects must be consistent with all environmental laws, protect large older trees, reflect the best science on restoring forests and take climate change into account when planning actions.
The bill authorizes $100 million for a new grant program to protect critical infrastructure and allow for greater energy flexibility.
One method of preventing large wildfires is temporarily cutting power during times of very high wind but its effects are often extremely disruptive. The grant program will help retrofit key structures like hospitals and police, fire and utility stations so they can function better without power. Funds can also be used to expand the use of distributed energy systems, including microgrids, which will reduce the area that power shutoffs effect.
The bill also expands the Energy Department’s weatherization program so homes can be retrofitted to make them more resilient to wildfire through the use of fire-resistant building materials and other methods. It also expedites the permitting process for installation of wildfire detection equipment, expands the use of satellite data to assist wildfire response and allows Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation funding to be used for the installation of fire-resistant wires and putting wires underground.
To coordinate research and training of foresters and forest managers in western states in the latest methods and innovations in controlled burns, the bill will establish one or more Prescribed Burn Fire Centers.
A new workforce development program will be authorized to assist in developing a career-training pipeline for forestry and fire management workers and establish a training center to teach foresters and fire managers in the latest methods and innovations in practices to reduce the likelihood of catastrophic fires and improve the health of forests.
An additional $50 million is authorized to help disadvantaged communities plan and collaborate on forest restoration, wildland-urban interface and tribal projects as well as projects increasing equitable access to environmental education and volunteer opportunities.
“Western wildfires are becoming more frequent, more destructive and more deadly,” said Feinstein in the release. “This is happening because higher temperatures caused by climate change are leading to increased drought, more insect and disease damage and changing weather patterns. We must do more to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and prepare for the fires we know are ahead of us.”
Feinstein added that the Wildfire Emergency Act’s three-pronged approach complements other priorities such as stabilizing the federal wildland firefighting workforce and retrofitting air tankers.
“We need a whole-of-government effort to battle catastrophic wildfire and address the growing challenge of climate change. This bill moves us in that direction,” said Feinstein.
