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NACo testifies on county role in combatting wildfires and forest management at U.S. House Natural Resources Committee hearing

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    NACo testifies on county role in combatting wildfires and forest management at U.S. House Natural Resources Committee hearing

    On Friday, August 11, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing titled “Conservation in a Crown Jewel: A Discussion About Wildfire and Forest Management.” The hearing investigated the tangible consequences of poor and failed forest management policies and the impacts of catastrophic wildfires. A full video recording of the hearing can be found here. 

    Mariposa County, Calif. Supervisor Miles Menetrey testified before the committee on behalf of NACo. In his testimony, Supervisor Menetrey highlighted that over half of Mariposa County is federally owned and therefore exempt from taxes and development, which means the county struggles to finance essential county services for residents and visitors. He also highlighted that management decisions made by federal lands agencies have directly impacted Mariposa County’s “environment, economy and quality of life.” Supervisor Menetrey discussed how recent fires in Mariposa County have claimed the lives of two firefighters, destroyed over 200 homes and caused $300 million in damages. However, Mariposa County has stepped up with non-profit partners on various wildfire risk reduction projects, including a recent purchase of 300 acres near the town of Mariposa to construct fuel breaks and protect the community.

    Counties support Congressional efforts to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire to our forests, communities, public health and rural economies. NACo also supports cooperatively combatting the growing threat of wildfire to public lands counties. Federal agencies must work with counties to accomplish their land management goals, including wildfire suppression and risk reduction, and ensure such efforts do not jeopardize the health, safety and welfare of local residents.

    On Friday, August 11, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing titled “Conservation in a Crown Jewel: A Discussion About Wildfire and Forest Management.”
    2023-08-16
    Blog
    2023-08-16
The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee hosted an oversight hearing regarding the impacts of poor forest management policies and catastrophic wildfires Mariposa County, Calif. Miles Menetrey testified on behalf of NACo, highlighting the impacts of federal land mismanagement and advocating for county interests Wildfires are a persistent threat to public lands counties and NACo supports Congressional efforts to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires to our forests, communities, public health and rural economies

On Friday, August 11, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing titled “Conservation in a Crown Jewel: A Discussion About Wildfire and Forest Management.” The hearing investigated the tangible consequences of poor and failed forest management policies and the impacts of catastrophic wildfires. A full video recording of the hearing can be found here. 

Mariposa County, Calif. Supervisor Miles Menetrey testified before the committee on behalf of NACo. In his testimony, Supervisor Menetrey highlighted that over half of Mariposa County is federally owned and therefore exempt from taxes and development, which means the county struggles to finance essential county services for residents and visitors. He also highlighted that management decisions made by federal lands agencies have directly impacted Mariposa County’s “environment, economy and quality of life.” Supervisor Menetrey discussed how recent fires in Mariposa County have claimed the lives of two firefighters, destroyed over 200 homes and caused $300 million in damages. However, Mariposa County has stepped up with non-profit partners on various wildfire risk reduction projects, including a recent purchase of 300 acres near the town of Mariposa to construct fuel breaks and protect the community.

Counties support Congressional efforts to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire to our forests, communities, public health and rural economies. NACo also supports cooperatively combatting the growing threat of wildfire to public lands counties. Federal agencies must work with counties to accomplish their land management goals, including wildfire suppression and risk reduction, and ensure such efforts do not jeopardize the health, safety and welfare of local residents.

About Jonathan Shuffield (Full Bio)

Legislative Director – Public Lands | Western Interstate Region

Jonathan serves as NACo’s legislative director for public lands and liaison to the Western Interstate Region, lobbying Congress on public lands issues including Payments In Lieu of Taxes, Secure Rural Schools, land management and endangered species.

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    Public Lands Steering Committee

    All matters relating to federally-owned public lands including federal land ​management programs, natural resource revenue sharing payments, payments in lieu of taxes, and property tax immunity concerns.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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    <p>All matters relating to federally-owned public lands including federal land ​management programs, natural resource revenue sharing payments, payments in lieu of taxes, and property tax immunity concerns.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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