Joint Comments on the U.S. Forest Service’s Fiscal Year 2019 Budget May 15, 2018 Comment Letters To: Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources Subject: U.S. Forest Service’s fiscal year 2019 budget request Letter excerpt: On April 24, the Committee held an important hearing to examine the U.S. Forest service’s fiscal year 2019 budget request. We appreciate the emphasis by the Committee to make sure the Forest Service is focused and accountable for expediting hazardous fuels reduction projects to protect at-‐risk watersheds and communities. No longer restrained by the practice of fire borrowing, the Forest Service now must redouble its efforts to reduce the threat of wildfire through active forest management. Interim Chief Vicki Christiansen expressed a strong commitment to the Committee to use the new authorities provided in the omnibus spending bill to accelerate collaborative projects to protect critical values at risk. Christiansen agreed to a request by the Committee to provide a report, within six weeks, that will outline specific Forest Service plans to reduce hazardous fuels as we enter another dangerous fire season. As part of this report, we respectfully request that the Committee request that the Forest Service outline efforts to protect watersheds in the West and, specifically, actions to increase the pace and scale of collaborative forest restoration projects. Download joint comment letter
