Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and others celebrated the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works' unanimous vote to pass the bipartisan Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA).
WEPA: A Refresher
Sen. Kelly introduced the bill in late July, which cuts federal red tape on states' individual wildfire prevention tactics, especially controlled or prescribed burns.
What Lawmakers are Saying
"Forest management is difficult, but it is much easier and safer to deal with the root of wildfires than trying to suppress them when they are threatening our lands and communities," said Sen. Gallego through a press release. "This is a safety issue that the nation needs to address now, especially for places like Northern Arizona. Prescribed burns are proven to work, and streamlining this process will only make America safer."
Similarly, Sen. Kelly stated, "In Arizona, we know just how catastrophic wildfires can be. One of the best tools we have to reduce wildfire risk and the damage it wreaks is prescribed fires."
"But right now, federal air quality rules can make it harder for states to use prescribed fire proactively," Sen. Kelly continued. "The WEPA gives states greater certainty that they won't be penalized under the Clean Air Act for responsibly using prescribed burns to reduce the risk of much larger and more destructive wildfires. This is a commonsense change that will help us keep our communities safe and our forests healthy."
Senator John Curtis (R-UT), one of the bill's Republican cosponsors, further commented, "Today's unanimous approval by the Committee brings us one step closer to addressing the glaring irony in our current environmental regulations: They deter prescribed burns due to pollution concerns, practically guaranteeing catastrophic wildfires that emit far more carbon than proactive management ever would. I thank my colleagues for their work and support and look forward to the bill’s passage by the full Senate."
