President George W. Bush signs the
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of
2003 at the Department of
Agriculture Wednesday, December 3,
2003.
President Bush Signs Healthy
Forests Restoration Act into Law
On December 3, 2003, President
Bush signed into law the Healthy
Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to
reduce the threat of destructive
wildfires while upholding
environmental standards and
encouraging early public input
during review and planning
processes. The legislation is based
on sound science and helps further
the President.s Healthy Forests
Initiative pledge to care for
America.s forests and rangelands,
reduce the risk of catastrophic fire
to communities, help save the lives
of firefighters and citizens, and
protect threatened and endangered
species.
The Healthy Forests Restoration
Act:
Strengthens public
participation in developing high
priority forest health projects;
Reduces the complexity of
environmental analysis allowing
federal land agencies to use the
best science available to actively
manage land under their
protection;
Provides a more effective
appeals process encouraging early
public participation in project
planning; and
Issues clear guidance for
court action against forest health
projects.
The Administration and a
bipartisan majority in Congress
supported the legislation and are
joined by a variety of environmental
conservation groups.
The Need for Common-Sense Forest
Legislation
Catastrophic fires, particularly
those experienced in California,
Arizona, Colorado, Montana and
Oregon over the past two years, burn
hotter and faster than most ordinary
fires.
Visibility and air quality are
reduced, threatening even the health
of many who do not live near the
fires.
The habitat for endangered
species and other wildlife is
destroyed.
Federal forests and rangelands
also face threats from the spread of
invasive species and insect attacks.
In the past two years
alone, 147,049 fires burned nearly
11 million acres
2002: 88,458 fires
burned roughly 7 million acres and
caused the deaths of 23
firefighters;
2003 (thus far): 59,149
fires have burned 3.8 million
acres and caused the deaths of 28
firefighters.
Nearly 6,800 structures have
been destroyed in 2003
(approximately 4,800 in
California).
The California fires alone
cost $250 million to contain and
22 civilians have died as a
result.
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