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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This resolution urges the federal government to pursue policies that allow for easier
11 reduction of excess forest fuel loads and minimize further climate warming.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 ▸ notes that recent wildfire seasons have been exceptionally destructive;
15 ▸ notes the impact that wildfire has on air quality in Utah;
16 ▸ urges the federal government to pursue forest fuel load reductions to mitigate
17 wildfire risk; and
18 ▸ urges the federal government to pursue policies that minimize additional climate
19 change.
20 Special Clauses:
21 None
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23 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
24 WHEREAS, recent fire seasons in Utah have been exceptionally destructive, including
25 the 2018 fire season which included 485,989 acres and 400 structures burned and fire-fighting
26 costs estimated to be $150,000,000;
27 WHEREAS, because of smoke from wildfires, Utah's air quality during the summer of
28 2018 was much worse than usual along the Wasatch Front with a large increase in the number
29 of unhealthy red air quality days;
30 WHEREAS, if wildfires continue to worsen, it will come with a terrible cost in terms of
31 dollars to fight the fires and increased loss of property and loss of human life;
32 WHEREAS, human carbon dioxide emissions are leading to increased global
33 temperatures, including warmer and dryer summers in Utah that are a contributing factor to
34 worsening wildfires; and
35 WHEREAS, federal land management policies that encourage a large amount of excess
36 fuel load to accumulate in our forests are also a contributing factor to worsening wildfires:
37 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
38 Governor concurring therein, urges the federal government to pursue policies that allow for
39 common sense fuel load reductions in Utah's forests, including easier permitting of prescribed
40 burns during times of the year with low fire risk and allowing for appropriate salvage logging
41 to occur before timber loses its economic value.
42 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor
43 concurring therein, urges the federal government to minimize additional climate change by
44 pursuing policies that will lead to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
45 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the members of
46 Utah's federal delegation, the chief of the United States Forest Service, and the director of the
47 United States Bureau of Land Management.