On the heels of the worst wildfires in California
’s history, President George W. Bush signed a bill called
“Healthy Forests” this week, allowing trees to be thinned faster
than before but with less oversight by government and environmental
groups.
On the heels of the worst wildfires in California’s history, President George W. Bush signed a bill called “Healthy Forests” this week, allowing trees to be thinned faster than before but with less oversight by government and environmental groups.
He said it will help protect communities by managing forests.
Passage of the bill followed the devastating Southern California fires that burned 750,000 acres in October.
Congressman Richard Pombo, R-Stockton, was a lead negotiator in getting the bill through the House of Representatives.
“This is the strongest environmental protection law signed since the Clean Water Act and the Clear Air Act,” said Pombo. He was on the dais when Bush signed the legislation at the White House.
The plan will allow timber companies to increase the speed at which they cull trees, including those damaged by insects, on 20 million acres of federal forest land most at risk to wildfires. The requirement for environmental studies before cutting was reduced and possible appeals were limited.
“Congress took a bad bill and made it less so,” said Brian Schmidt, legislative director of the Committee for Green Foothills, a local environmental group. “But it’s still worse than the status quo.”
