Center for Biological DiversityProtecting endangered species and wild
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ADVISORY : June 26, 2003 CONTACT : Brian Segee, Southwest Public Lands Director, Center for Biological Diversity (520) 623-5252 x308 More Information: Center's Fire and Ecosystem Health Campaign ARIZONA FIRE FACTS: Cause still under investigation, the Aspen fire burning in the Santa Catalina Mountains outside of Tucson, Arizona has burned 322 homes and businesses in and near the village of Summerhaven--over 70 percent of the towns structures. The lack of fuel-reduction treatments conducted on National Forest lands adjacent to Summerhaven starkly illustrates the shortcomings of the Bush Administrations so-called Healthy Forests Initiative, as well as the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, passed by the House of Representatives in May and currently pending before the Senate. Coronado National
Forest Contains Extensive Areas of Wildland Urban Interface Hazardous Fuels
Reduction Budget for Fiscal Year 2001 on the Coronado National Forest Hazardous Fuels
Reduction for FY 2002 on the Coronado National Forest Treats Fewer Acres
Than FY 2001 Summerhaven
Nearly Burns During Summer of 2002 Despite Bullock
Fire, Hazardous Fuels Reduction Budget for FY 2003 on the Coronado National
Forest Targets Even Fewer Wildland-Urban Interface Acres Than FY 2002 Fuels Reduction
Funding Requests for Summerhaven Ignored Coronado National
Forest Fire Protection Projects "on hold due to lack of funding" No Appeals or Litigation Filed Against Fuel Reduction Projects No proposed fuel reduction projects on the Coronado National Forest have been delayed by appeals or litigation. Project implementation has not occurred because the Bush administration has not allocated sufficient money. (end) |