Tom Udall: “I have read the amendment proposed by the gentlewoman from New Mexico. Her amendment prohibits the Bureau of Land…”

“I have read the amendment proposed by the gentlewoman from New Mexico. Her amendment prohibits the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the Forest Service from using these appropriations act funds for prescribed burns on Federal lands without notifying and cooperating with tribal, State and local governments. I believe this is an excellent idea. In testimony before the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, it was apparent this policy was not being followed, to the great detriment of the counties affected and the State of New Mexico. I believe that all of the requirements of the prescribed burn policy should be followed, not just the notification requirement. There are many obligations in that policy and they are important, such as compliance with local and Federal air quality regulations governing contingency plans for possible loss of control, a public fire safety hazard analysis, or fire behavior analysis. Mr. Chairman, in the spirit of cooperation, I would offer this perfecting amendment at this time.”