Sweetwater commission backs fed. forestry act

Sweetwater County is one of 90 groups supporting a federal bill its proponents say will help clean up national forests and reduce the severity of forest fires.

The Resilient Federal Forests Act was initially introduced to the U.S. House July 22 by Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., a ranking member of the House Committee on National Resources. The bipartisan bill was introduced with 70 cosponsors, including Wyoming’s Rep. Liz Cheney.

““For years, the federal government has mismanaged our forests, resulting in more catastrophic fires. We must take action now to implement effective forest management. I am proud to co-sponsor this legislation, and will continue to work to find solutions to protect Wyoming from the threat of wildfires by ensuring that our forests are properly managed,” Cheney said in a statement.

The bill’s proponents say it aims to improve the health of federal forests by addressing problems with overgrown forests, the impact beetles and other insects have had, as well as curtailing what a House Committee on National Resources press release about the bill refers to as “frivolous” and “obstructionist” litigation that has tied up forest management projects. The bill’s supporters also claim the bill would help revitalize the economies of rural communities.

The bill received support from multiple Wyoming counties. Amongst the supporters are Sheridan, Carbon, Fremont, Uinta, Lincoln, Converse, Washakie, Park and Sublette counties. Sweetwater County Commissioner Mary Thoman said the Wyoming County Commissioners Association initially contacted the county and asked if commissioners would support the bill.

Other supporters include the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Intermountain Forest Association and the Society of American Foresters.

Thoman said the county gave verbal support for the bill, saying it comes from the county’s status as a cooperating entity with the Ashley National Forest, which includes the Flaming Gorge National Recreation area.

She also said the county has concerns about the impacts forest fires have downstream from where they occur, saying dirt and mud get carried into waterways after a fire and impact water quality downstream.

Thoman, who had been a longtime member of the Sweetwater County Conservation District before being elected as a county commissioner, also agrees with the bill’s assessment of the federal forests.

“They’ve fallen into disrepair,” she said.