[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 119 (Wednesday, July 12, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Padilla):
  S. 2269. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to permit 
removal of trees around electrical lines on National Forest System land 
without conducting a timber sale, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Fire 
Safe Electrical Corridors Act of 2023 and thank my colleague Senator 
Padilla for joining as an original cosponsor.
  Our bill would allow the U.S. Forest Service to approve removal of 
hazardous trees near power lines on Federal forest lands without a 
timber sale, thereby reducing administrative burden and reducing the 
risk of catastrophic wildfire.
  Californians are all too familiar with the potential for electrical 
power lines to cause devastating wildfires. Three of the largest and 
most destructive wildfires in California history--the 2017 Thomas Fire, 
the 2018 Camp Fire, and the 2021 Dixie Fire--were started by electrical 
equipment. Together, these wildfires burned more than 1.2 million 
acres, destroyed more than 15,000 homes, and killed 87 people.
  When power lines cross Federal land, the Forest Service generally 
requires utility companies to keep the area around them free of trees 
that could touch or fall on the lines or otherwise ignite. Removing 
those cut trees, however, requires the Forest Service to hold a timber 
sale, which imposes administrative costs. Meanwhile, cut trees often 
linger on the landscape, posing a continued risk of igniting during a 
wildfire or damaging other infrastructure during a flood.
  Our bill would make targeted changes to existing Forest Service 
authorities to encourage quicker and less costly removal of the trees. 
Specifically, we would allow the Secretary of Agriculture to grant 
utilities permission to cut and remove trees or other vegetation near 
their power lines without a separate timber sale, provided that that 
removal is consistent with existing forest management plans.
  Included in this legislation is a requirement that any proceeds 
obtained from timber or forest products removed under this authority be 
returned to the Forest Service. This removes any financial incentive to 
remove trees other than those necessary for wildfire mitigation. After 
all, the goal is to streamline actions that protect against devastating 
wildfires--protecting, not removing, our Nation's forests.
  Congress has an opportunity this year to make this small change to 
Forest Service authorities to ensure better stewardship of our national 
forests and prevent catastrophic wildfires. I thank Senator Padilla for 
his partnership on this bill, and I urge the full Senate to take it up 
and and pass it as soon as possible.
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