U.S.
Senator Member: Agriculture, Energy, Veterans' Affairs, Ethics and Aging Committees |
||
|
||
For Immediate
Release July 7, 2006 |
CONTACT: Cody Wertz – Comm. Director 303-455-7600 Andrew Nannis – Press Secretary 202-224-5852 |
|
Denver, CO – United States Senator Ken Salazar met with members of the Summit County Bark Beetle Task Force today to discuss the increasing dangers posed by rising levels of drought and bark beetle infestation to Colorado’s forests and what efforts and technologies should be implemented to mitigate fire danger. Salazar’s meeting with the Summit County task force is a prelude to a delegation meeting in Washington, D.C. next week organized by Senator Salazar with the North West Council of Governments (NWCOG) and Colorado Counties, INC (CCI) to hear their views on the different beetle bills sponsored by Senators Salazar and Allard and Representatives Udall and Salazar. “The scourge of bark beetle infestation has become a reality we must now deal with,” said Senator Salazar. “Solving the problem will require cooperation from local governments, businesses and residents and the federal government. Today’s meeting serves the purpose of gathering information on local mitigation efforts and how and where the federal government can be of the most help.” The members of the Summit County Bark Beetle Task Force updated Senator Salazar with their ongoing efforts to mitigate the bark beetle problem and identified additional needs including quicker federal approval of local plans involving adjoining Forest Service land, and increased biomass products utilization and facilities. Senator Salazar also tasked the members with providing more specific information on the scope of the problem in preparation for next week’s NWCOG and CCI bark beetle meeting in Washington, D.C. Senator Salazar also praised the Task Force for being proactive and promised to assist their efforts in whatever way he can. Since taking office Senator Salazar has worked tirelessly on the bark beetle infestation issue. Below is a list of many of his efforts:
# # #
|
||