Today the Federal administration’s Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission met for the first time in Salt Lake City, Utah to begin crafting federal policy recommendations and strategies on ways to better prevent, manage, suppress and recover from wildfires across the West.
The establishment of the commission was required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, H.R.3684, signed by the President on November 15, 2021, which became Public Law Number 117-58.
More than 500 applications were received, and 36 non-federal members — 18 primary and 18 alternates — were selected. Along with 11 federal members, the commission will be co-chaired by Departments of Agriculture, the Interior, and FEMA leadership. Commission members represent federal agencies, Tribes, state and local municipalities, and private entities, as directed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The selections of the members were made by the three co-chairs of the Commission, Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilisack, Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell, and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.
Of the 47 members of the Commission, there are two, including an alternate, who fill the slot allocated for “wildland firefighter” — Kelly Martin, President of Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, and Nathan Miller, Wildland Superintendent for the City of Santa Fe Fire Department, NM. The full list of members as announced by the government in July can be found here.
The legislation which established the Commission required that the first meeting be held no later than February 13, 2022. It also included deliverables in two broad categories, with due dates, two of which were breached months ago:
1. Develop recommendations to mitigate and manage wildland fires
By February 13, 2023 develop a report describing recommendations to prevent, mitigate, suppress, and manage wildland fires; consider protection of human life, short- and long-term forest management; wildland-urban interface; utility corridors; rehab after fires; streamlining environmental reviews; and, recommendations for modernizing and expanding the use of technology, including satellite technology, remote sensing, unmanned aircraft systems, and any other type of emerging technology to prevent, mitigate, suppress, and manage wildland fires.
2. Report on aerial wildland firefighting equipment, strategy, and inventory
By March 30, 2022 prepare an inventory of surplus cargo and passenger aircraft that may be used for wildland firefighting purposes.
By June 28, 2022 develop an assessment of the number of aircraft needed to fight wildland fires through 2030. The report will include an assessment of the federal government’s authorities to provide or sell surplus aircraft to Federal, State, or local organizations to be used for wildland firefighting, and, identify any additional authorities that are needed. The Commission is directed to consider all private and public sector options for accessing necessary aircraft and aircraft parts, including procurement, contracting, retrofitting, and public-private partnerships.
Our take
Since the Commission is already seven months behind the schedule required by legislation, it remains to be seen if the three co-chairs, Secretary Vilisack, Administrator Criswell, and Secretary Haaland are taking their charges seriously.
Since multiple due dates for deliverables have passed, in order to establish confidence among those who are watching that they can produce useful results, they need to admit they are already far behind, and publicise a revised schedule with dates they pledge to honor. It should include the names of persons responsible for each item.
Too often we see federal agencies ignore laws passed by Congress and incur no penalty. In this case, they have an opportunity to do something meaningful. Let’s hope it is not squandered.
I’d be willing to bet an entire paycheck (with H) that not a single salient, implementable item will be produced by this “committee”. Look no further than the train-wreck that was called AFUE…and that went on for a decade!
Personally, I am glad some “body” is looking at doing anything regarding wildfires. Yes it takes time, but it beats getting told by political hacks that Professional Fire Fighters are simply “unskilled labor” and it is time to slash the budget.
My spouse worked the lines and in support of wildland Firefighters for years and never once did she see a billionaire working a line with a shovel, axe or hose in his or her hands. So the solutions aren’t going to come from rockets to Mars but from regular people that may be on this site.
If you want a voice, get out of the bleachers and on this commission or make contact with the folks on the commission. Watch out for rocks around glass houses.
Follow the money. Long gone are the days when fire camp consisted of a pallet with food and water on it . I’m many of you remember the days when calling dispatch to order an air tanker on initial attack meant part of your anatomy would get a bite taken out of it. Wildfire mitigation and management programs would mean the loss category on P/L statements would need extra pages and we couldn’t have that, now could we. Wildfire has become very big business with very big players, and, these players have friends in high places. Food for thought ladies and gents, food for thought.
How about a commission on ineffective use of aircraft and ground resources on large fires?
If I had a nickel…
In reading the legislation it states one of the first reports to Congress, 135 days from the first meeting yesterday, is a report of all potential military and commercial aircraft available for conversion, a listing of the current fleet of aerial firefighting equipment and recommendations for what the fleet should look like in 2030…odd thing is that there is NO ONE on the commission that has any idea of how best to assess the current inventory of assets or project what it should look like into the future…there are members on the commission to represent health equity and public utilities, but no one with experience on the aerial firefighting industry…this leaves the USFS in charge of writing the report (just like they’d hoped) that no one on the commission will know how to assess and what we will be left with is recommendations for more MATOC/LPTA contracts in the future and the inevitable accidents and deaths that will occur because of this contracting structure and we’ll be back to another Blue Ribbon Panel, 25-30 years after the first one….
The public, including stakeholders not included as commissioners, were blocked from entering these meetings. I would like to know why the government decided that the Sunshine Act or the Federal Advisory Committee Act did not apply to this commission. What interest is served having these meetings in secret? Where is government transparency?
Progress is good. The forests in the US are in a precarious situation. Now is time to forge on the ground progress.
The strongest steel is forged in the fire of a dumpster. -Fed Land Mgmt Motto.
Freaking hilarious!
I don’t care about this smoke and mirrors committee. I don’t care what they say, do or recommend. I will delete their emails, ignore their recommendations and generally laugh at any outputs that emanate from their bursting radius. After that, in Sept 23, when our “raises” are rescinded, I’ll immediately tender my resignation and embark upon a new career and fulfilling career. I’m through with these clown trying to Spreadsheet their way out of the very mess they created over decades and decades.
Its to late this has been going on for years just let it burn and remember save the tree’s wipe your ass with an Owl. The environmentalist started with forest protection for years ago and destroyed the future for many people.
Thanks what will be next? Nothing will be left for future generations
“Since multiple due dates for deliverables have passed, in order to establish confidence among those who are watching that they can produce useful results, they need to admit they are already far behind, and publicize a revised schedule with dates they pledge to honor. It should include the names of persons responsible for each item.
Too often we see federal agencies ignore laws passed by Congress and incur no penalty”.
This comment is on mark but as a retired 40 year federal employee of the USDA Forest Service, DoD Naval Air Station, and US Army Corps of Engineers no person in the upper echelon is ever held accountable. That is very typical for the Forest Service and Corps of Engineers. These political folks will never “admit they are already far behind” and take accountability. These federal laws made by politicians are not enforceable. Let’s see who is going to move the pawn first in this game of chess.