S.C.R. 7

             1     

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON COMPREHENSIVE

             2     
STATEWIDE WILDLAND FIRE PREVENTION,

             3     
PREPAREDNESS, AND SUPPRESSION POLICY

             4     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             5     
STATE OF UTAH

             6     
Chief Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers

             7     
House Sponsor: Joel K. Briscoe

             8     
             9      LONG TITLE
             10      General Description:
             11          This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor expresses support for
             12      Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy and strongly urges its implementation.
             13      Highlighted Provisions:
             14          This resolution:
             15          .    expresses the Legislature's strong desire to reduce catastrophic wildfires;
             16          .    expresses support for the recommendations in the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction
             17      Strategy;
             18          .    strongly urges the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to implement the
             19      recommendations in the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy in partnership
             20      with the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Steering Committee and guided by the
             21      report's recommendations;
             22          .    strongly urges the state forester to report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and
             23      Environment Interim Committee regarding progress on implementing the strategy,
             24      particularly the progress of the "Regionally Significant Projects"; and
             25          .    strongly urges the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to coordinate the
             26      development of a Comprehensive Statewide Wildland Fire Prevention,
             27      Preparedness, and Suppression Policy.


             28      Special Clauses:
             29          None
             30     
             31      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
             32          WHEREAS, catastrophic wildland fires continue to be a major problem in Utah;
             33          WHEREAS, catastrophic wildland fires inflict significant damage and financial burdens
             34      on the state and its citizens;
             35          WHEREAS, the significant impacts of catastrophic wildland fires to state and local
             36      economies, critical infrastructure, the environment, and private landowners have increased and
             37      are projected to continue to increase in frequency and severity;
             38          WHEREAS, poor forest health caused by invasive species, lack of setback in plant
             39      succession, disease, and changes in climatic conditions have produced large areas in the state
             40      with heavy fuels or "firesheds" which, if ignited, can burn in a catastrophic manner;
             41          WHEREAS, Utah experiences an average of 1,498 wildfires each year that result in
             42      millions of dollars in taxpayer expense;
             43          WHEREAS, studies show that every dollar spent in prevention of wildfires results in a
             44      savings of $17 in suppression costs;
             45          WHEREAS, following the fire season of 2012, the Governor directed the commissioner
             46      of the Department of Agriculture and Food to develop a strategy to reduce the risk of
             47      catastrophic wildfire in Utah;
             48          WHEREAS, the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Food convened a
             49      Statewide Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Steering Committee;
             50          WHEREAS, in December 2013, the Statewide Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction
             51      Steering Committee released a Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy, which contains
             52      specific recommendations to address fire suppression;
             53          WHEREAS, the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy includes seven
             54      recommendations:
             55          1. Statewide Coordination of Mitigation Resources.
             56          2. A Catastrophic Fire Reduction Fund.
             57          3. Regional Collaborative Working Groups to Perform Needs Assessment and
             58      Prioritization Across the State.


             59          4. Technical Committees to Respond to Specific Concerns of Statewide Importance.
             60          5. Adopt Key Recommendations from the National Cohesive Wildland Fire
             61      Management Strategy.
             62          6. Increase Public Understanding and Participation.
             63          7. The central steering committee should report annually to the Governor and the
             64      Legislature the actions planned and taken.
             65          WHEREAS, the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy identifies "Regionally
             66      Significant Projects" recommended by six regional working groups that include a full
             67      complement of prevention and preparedness actions; and
             68          WHEREAS, the administration and staff of the Utah Department of Natural Resources'
             69      Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands have knowledge, expertise, and processes in place
             70      to execute the recommendations in the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy:
             71          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
             72      Governor concurring therein, expresses a strong desire to reduce catastrophic wildfires.
             73          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor express support
             74      for the recommendations and initiatives contained in the Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction
             75      Strategy and recognize the positive impacts of the recommendations within the report.
             76          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor strongly urge the
             77      Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to implement the recommendations in the
             78      Catastrophic Wildfire Reduction Strategy in partnership with the Catastrophic Wildfire
             79      Reduction Steering Committee and guided by the report's recommendations.
             80          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor strongly urge the
             81      state forester to report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim
             82      Committee regarding progress on implementing the strategy, particularly the progress of the
             83      "Regionally Significant Projects."
             84          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor strongly urge the
             85      Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to coordinate the development of a
             86      Comprehensive Statewide Wildland Fire Prevention, Preparedness, and Suppression Policy.
             87          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah
             88      Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands; the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food; the
             89      United States Bureau of Land Management; the United States Forest Service; the Utah


             90      Association of Counties; Trout Unlimited; the Nature Conservancy; the Beaver County
             91      Commission; the Box Elder County Commission; the Daggett County Commission; the Iron
             92      County Commission; the Kane County Commission; the Tooele County Commission; the
             93      Washington County Commission; the Utah Conservation Commission; the School and
             94      Institutional Trust Lands Administration; the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the
             95      United States Department of Agriculture; and the members of Utah's congressional delegation.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-10-14 5:20 PM


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