Energy and Environment

Farm bill a mixed bag for supporters of forest thinning to help stop wildfires

By Josh Siegel

Published December 11, 2018 4:35pm ET

Add Washington Examiner on Google

Farm bill a mixed bag for supporters of forest thinning to help stop wildfires — This Oct. 30, 2017 photo shows a notice warning visitors of controlled-fire operations in Kings Canyon National Park, Calif. Californiaâs seemingly endless cycle of wildfires is helping drive plans to do more âcontrolled burnsâ that thin forests choked with dead trees and withered underbrush that if left unchecked can feed monster blazes that force entire communities to flee, destroy homes and take lives. The goal for 2018 is to burn at least 20,000 acres and to clear another 20,000 by crews using chain saws, bulldozers and other machinery. | (AP Photo/Brian Melley)

Supporters of forest management to mitigate worsening wildfires in Western states won and lost in the new compromise farm bill released Monday night by House and Senate negotiators.

The Trump administration, congressional Republicans, and the forestry industry, had hoped the final legislation, which will likely get a vote this week, would contain provisions in the House-passed version of the bill to expand the pace and scale of certain forest-thinning projects to help relieve wildfires.

Print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Digital subscriber? Click here to login/register your account.

Full midterm coverage.Deeper analysis.

Get unlimited access to Washington Examiner's reporting, expert analysis, and coverage of the midterm elections.

Get Unlimited Access

Cancel anytime.

Tag:

Climate Change Farm bill Forest Service Natural Disasters