November 17, 2007 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bill Sali’s plan to protect homes, property, and communities from wildfire, insects, diseases, and invasive species by reducing hazardous fuels on adjacent federal lands has been introduced with support from counties, firefighters, and forestry and agriculture experts.  

The “Saving American Lives and Investing in Protecting Land And Nature Act” (SALI PLAN),  H.R. 4245, would protect communities and private lands by speeding up federal land projects designed to reduce hazardous fuels and wildfire, insect, and disease risks.

The bill would allow a shortened environmental review process – a categorical exclusion – a special exception allowed under the National Environmental Policy Act. The bill would keep in place the environmental safeguards stipulated in the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, would provide old growth and endangered species protections and comply with forest management plans and all environmental laws. Projects would be prohibited in wilderness areas, national monuments, and wilderness study areas. 

“This bill is what Idaho - and all of America - needs right now and for the future,” said Sali.  “This bill will save Idaho lives and private property while managing our forests in an effective and responsible manner.”

Sali noted that last fire season more than 2,900 homes and 25 human lives were lost.  Idaho had the second worst fire season ever.  “Clearly, this legislation is needed,” Sali said.

The measure has the backing of the American Forest & Paper Association, Society of American Foresters, American Forest Resource Council, Idaho Association of Counties, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Idaho Cattle Association, National Association of Conservation Districts, American Farm Bureau Federation, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, Intermountain Forest Association, Federal Wildland Fire Service Association and Idaho Women in Timber.

The National Cattleman’s Beef Association said, “One of the gravest threats to western ranching and communities is the frequency and intensity of fires. Federal and state officials need all possible tools available to effectively take action.  Congressman Sali's legislation will help streamline bureaucratic impediments to effective action.”

The Society of American Foresters told Sali, “The ability to expeditiously treat federal lands before wildfire, insect infestations, or other undesirable conditions migrate to adjacent non-federal lands is certainly a challenge in both the ‘checkerboard’ land ownerships found in the West, as well as among the more traditional ownership patterns found in the East.”

“As Idaho attempts to recover from another devastating fire year with over 2 million acres burned, it is critical that a process be streamlined to allow for large scale hazardous fuel reduction projects,” said the Idaho Association of Counties Public Lands Steering Committee.  

Wildfires have destroyed more than 9.3 million acres so far this year, including 1.9 million acres in Idaho.

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