Western Governors Say Quick Action on Wildfire Needed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2012

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Western governors meeting here today discussed and identified several actions that could be taken quickly by the states in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service to reduce the risks of massive wildfires that destroyed more than nine million acres nationally this year alone.

The Western Governors' Association and multiple stakeholders were integral in developing recommendations included in a new report, Phase III Western Region Science-Based Risk Analysis. The recommendations call for enhanced collaborative efforts that will result in improved wildfire response, the creation of fire adapted communities, and the restoration of landscapes that are resilient to wildfire.

"It is critical that the federal government and states work collaboratively on active-management plans that will thin overgrown Western forests to a more natural condition," said Arizona Governor Jan Brewer prior to the plenary session. "By restoring forests, increasing federal and state fire-suppression capabilities and encouraging proper land management by homeowners living in the urban interface, we can lessen the likelihood of the kinds of massive fires that have threatened lives and property across the West in recent years."

The governors met today with Harris Sherman, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, USDA, to discuss actions that can be taken immediately by Western states and the U.S. Forest Service under existing environmental protection authorities to reduce hazardous fuel conditions across the West.

"Wildfires pose a serious threat to people, property and water throughout the West--especially in the forested areas near communities," said Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. "The federal government and the states need to work together to manage forest health and pool all available resources to reduce catastrophic wildfires before they start and fight the fires once they occur. We need to spend scarce resources wisely to achieve these goals of healthier forests and firefighting detection and suppression tools."

Also this year, more than 2.5 million acres of habitat for Greater Sage-Grouse have burned. The grouse is currently listed on the Federal Endangered Species List as "warranted but precluded."

Impacts to habitat from wildfire could adversely affect an ESA listing decision to be made in 2015. Western states are working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service and other federal agencies to ensure the Greater Sage-Grouse does not warrant full listing.

A letter the governors sent to Congress on the wildfire issue can be found at http://www.westgov.org/letters-testimony.