Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) has teamed up with several members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to introduce the bipartisan Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA).
What the Bill Does
Specifically, the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act restricts federal red tape surrounding states' wildfire prevention tactics, especially prescribed burns.
Also called controlled burns, these are planned, contained fires started to clear debris, restore nutrients to the soil, and promote healthy ecosystems, started under optimal weather conditions to minimize the harm caused by smoke and other hazards.
What Lawmakers are Saying
"Arizona knows the damage catastrophic wildfires can do to our communities and forests," said Sen. Kelly in a press release, referring to the infamous wildfires that have affected the Grand Canyon State in recent years, especially the Dragon Bravo Fire that devastated the Grand Canyon's North Rim last year.
He continued, "Prescribed burns are one of the best ways to reduce that risk before a fire gets out of control, and states shouldn't be penalized for taking action. This bipartisan effort will help prevent larger, more destructive wildfires, keep our forests healthier, and better protect families from the smoke and pollution they leave behind."
Senator John Curtis (R-UT), one of the bill's Republican cosponsors, said, "If we're serious about reducing the size and severity of wildfires, we need to stop punishing local authorities for doing the right thing to improve forest health and remove hazardous fuels."
"By removing unnecessary regulatory burdens on prescribed burns, our legislation helps ensure states and localities can take proactive measures to help keep our forests and communities safe from the threat of wildfires," Sen. Curtis added.
Kelly and Curtis's Past Alliance
Kelly and Curtis previously teamed up in June to introduce the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act, a bill very similar to WEPA that addresses the problem of thinning forests to mitigate wildfires: removing the woody biomass cut from the forest is costly without financial support, so it is left in piles.
Thus, the risk of wildfires increases because piles of woody biomass provide more readily available fuel.
