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Wildfire Statistics [Updated October 3, 2019]
From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Forest Service (FS)--within the U.S. Department of Agriculture--carries out wildfire management and response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System. The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations. Wildfire statistics help to illustrate past U.S. wildfire activity."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie; Hanson, Laura A.
2019-10-03
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Wildfire Management Funding: Background, Issues, and FY2018 Appropriations [January 30, 2018]
"This report provides an overview of the accounts that fund wildfire management activities and historical wildfire management appropriations data, as well as information on FY2018 appropriations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2018-01-30
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Wildfire Statistics [Updated October 31, 2019]
From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Forest Service (FS)--within the U.S. Department of Agriculture--carries out wildfire management and response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System. The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations. Wildfire statistics help to illustrate past U.S. wildfire activity. Nationwide data compiled by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) indicate that the number of annual wildfires is variable but has decreased slightly over the last 30 years and that the number of acres burned annually, while also variable, generally has increased (see Figure 1). Every year since 2000, an average of 72,400 wildfires burned an average of 7.0 million acres. This figure is nearly double the average annual acreage burned in the 1990s (3.3 million acres), although a greater number of fires occurred annually in the 1990s (78,600 on average)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie; Hanson, Laura A.
2019-10-31
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Wildfire Statistics [August 2, 2018]
"Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Forest Service (FS)--within the U.S. Department of Agriculture--carries out wildfire management and response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System. The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations. Wildfire statistics help to illustrate past U.S. wildfire activity. Nationwide data compiled by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) indicate that the number of annual wildfires is variable but has stayed relatively constant over the last 30 years and that the number of acres burned annually, while also variable, generally has increased. Every year since 2000, an average of 73,200 wildfires burned an average of 6.9 million acres. This figure is nearly double the average annual acreage burned in the 1990s (3.3 million acres), although a greater number of fires occurred annually (78,600 on average)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2018-08-02
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Federal Land Management Agencies [Updated April 26, 2019]
From the Document: "The Property Clause in the U.S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 3, clause 2) provides Congress the authority to acquire, dispose of, and manage federal property. Currently, approximately 640 million acres of surface land are managed by the federal government, accounting for nearly 28% of the 2.3 billion acres of land in the 50 states and District of Columbia."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2019-04-26
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Wilderness: Legislation and Issues in the 113th Congress [April 17, 2014]
From the introduction: "The 1964 Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. §§1131-1136) established the National Wilderness Preservation System and directed that only Congress can designate federal lands as part of the system. Many believe that special areas should be designated to protect and preserve their unique values and characteristics, and bills are usually introduced in each Congress to designate wilderness areas. Others oppose such legislation because commercial activities, motorized access, and roads, structures, and facilities generally are prohibited in wilderness areas. Debate over wilderness bills that may be introduced in the 113th Congress is likely to follow this pattern, especially as to how those prohibited activities affect law enforcement in wilderness areas along U.S. national borders. In addition, a December 2010 change to the Interior Department policy dictating management for wilderness-suitable areas stimulated legislation in the 112th Congress over the timing and nature of wilderness reviews. Despite the policy's retraction in 2011, this continues to spur congressional interest. This report presents background information on wilderness protection and a discussion of issues in the wilderness debate--the pros and cons of wilderness designation generally; possible considerations for specific legislation; and a discussion of possible wilderness study area designation and protection. This report also tracks the status of legislation introduced in the 113th Congress to designate new wilderness or release wilderness study areas. A table of legislation from the 112th Congress is in Appendix A to this report."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie; Alexander, Kristina; Johnson, Sandra
2014-04-17
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Forestry Provisions in the 2014 Farm Bill (P.L. 113-79) [March 21, 2014]
"The Agricultural Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-79, the 2014 farm bill) was signed into law by President Obama on February 7, 2014, after both the House and Senate voted to approve a conference agreement. The 2014 farm bill establishes agricultural and food policy for the next several years, and also addresses several aspects of federal forestry policy. Forestry provisions were included in the Forestry title (Title VIII) of the 2014 farm bill as well as in some of the other titles. The 2014 farm bill generally repeals, reauthorizes, and modifies existing forestry assistance programs and provisions under two main authorities: the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (CFAA; P.L. 95-313; 16 U.S.C. §§2101-2114), as amended, and the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA; P.L. 108-148; 16 U.S.C. §§6501-6591), as amended. Several forestry assistance programs were reauthorized through FY2018. However, many federal forestry assistance programs are permanently authorized, and thus do not require reauthorization in the farm bill. The farm bill also repeals programs that had expired or had never received appropriations. The 2014 farm bill includes provisions addressing the management of the National Forest System."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2014-03-21
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Reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 [January 3, 2014]
"Many counties are compensated for the tax-exempt status of federal lands within those counties. Counties with national forest lands and with certain Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands have historically received a percentage of agency revenues, primarily from timber sales. However, timber sales have declined substantially since the historic high cut values in 1989--by more than 90% in some areas. Congress enacted the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (SRS, P.L. 106-393) to provide a temporary, optional system to supplant the revenue-sharing programs for the national forests, managed by the Forest Service (FS) in the Department of Agriculture, and for certain public lands administered by the BLM in the Department of the Interior. […] The 113th Congress again enacted a one-year extension, reauthorizing the program through FY2013. SRS payments are disbursed after the fiscal year ends, so the FY2013 extension authorizes a payment to be made in FY2014. The authorization is set to expire after the FY2013 payments are made in FY2014. Currently, payments for FY2014 will revert to a percentage of agency revenues, primarily from timber sales and recreation fees. This report explains the changes enacted for the program by the amendments in 2008 and 2012, the effect of the FY2013 sequester order on the FY2012 payments, and then describes the issues that Congress has debated and continues to debate in the 113th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2014-01-03
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Forest Service Appropriations, FY2010-FY2014: In Brief [March 4, 2014]
"The Forest Service (FS) is responsible for managing 193 million acres of the National Forest System, as well as conducting forestry research and providing assistance to state, local, private, and international forest owners. Funding to complete such work is provided through both discretionary and mandatory appropriations. Although it is an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the FS receives its discretionary appropriations through Title III of regular Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bills. The FS has received additional discretionary monies through supplemental appropriations bills. In addition, continuing appropriations resolutions have been used to maintain funding for the agency when regular appropriations bills have not been enacted before the start of the fiscal year, and in some cases, to provide full-year funding. The FS also receives annual mandatory appropriations under existing authorizing statutes. Laws authorizing mandatory appropriations allow the FS to spend money without further action by Congress. The budget authority for several of these mandatory spending accounts is dependent on revenue generated by activities on the national forests. Typically, these laws are permanent--such as the Timber Salvage Sale Fund--but sometimes the authorizations have a sunset date. This report presents and analyzes the discretionary and mandatory appropriations for the Forest Service--including the President's discretionary budget requests--over the last five years, from FY2010 to FY2014."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2014-03-04
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Forestry Assistance Programs [January 7, 2014]
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has numerous programs to support management of state and private forests. These programs are under the jurisdiction of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees and are often examined in the periodic legislation to reauthorize agricultural programs, commonly known as farm bills. Both the House (H.R. 2642) and Senate (S. 954) versions of the 2014 farm bill contain a forestry title with provisions affecting forestry-specific assistance programs. Both versions of the farm bill propose to repeal, reauthorize, and modify some of these programs. Forestry-specific assistance programs (in contrast to agriculture conservation programs that include forestry activities) are primarily administered by the USDA Forest Service (FS), with permanent authorization of funding as needed. The House version of the 2014 farm bill (H.R. 2642) proposes to eliminate the permanent authorization for many of these programs. [...] Overall funding for forestry assistance programs in FY2013 was $354 million. After a high of $429 million in FY2010, funding has decreased for three successive years. Funding for the forest management assistance programs--forest stewardship and urban and community forestry--has remained relatively constant over the past five years. However, funds for forest protection programs--forest health (for insect and disease identification and control), fire assistance, and forest legacy (for easements to prevent forest clearing)--are at five-year lows."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2014-01-07
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Wilderness: Overview and Statistics [January 9, 2014]
"Congress enacted the Wilderness Act in 1964. This act created the National Wilderness Preservation System, reserved to Congress the authority to designate wilderness areas, and directed the Secretaries of Agriculture and of the Interior to review certain lands for their wilderness potential. The act also designated 54 wilderness areas with 9 million acres of federal land. Congress began expanding the Wilderness System in 1968, and today, there are 759 wilderness areas, totaling nearly 110 million acres, in 44 states. Numerous bills to designate additional areas and to expand existing ones have been introduced and considered in every Congress. The Wilderness Act defined wilderness as an area of undeveloped federal land, but, due to differing perceptions of wilderness and its purpose, did not establish criteria or standards to determine whether an area should be designated. In general, wilderness areas are undeveloped, and commercial activities, motorized access, and roads, structures, and facilities are generally prohibited in wilderness areas. However, in response to conflicting demands, Congress has granted both general exemptions and specific exceptions to the general standards and prohibitions. […] Alaska, because of its size and relatively pristine condition, dominates wilderness statistics--more than 52% of designated wilderness is in Alaska. In total, nearly 16% of all land (federal, state, private, and other) in Alaska has been designated as wilderness. In contrast, 3% of all land in the United States outside Alaska has been designated as wilderness."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2014-01-09
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Fire Management Assistance Grants: Frequently Asked Questions [September 25, 2014]
"Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93-288) authorizes the President to 'declare' a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). This authority has been delegated to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Regional Administrators. Once issued, the FMAG declaration authorizes various forms of federal assistance such as the provision of equipment, personnel, and grants to state, local, and tribal governments for the control, management, and mitigation of any fire on certain public or private forest land or grassland that might become a major disaster. The current FMAG system was established by regulation in October of 2001. Prior to that time, the program was known as the Fire Suppression Assistance Program. However, the program was administered in similar fashion with the FEMA Regional Administrators working with the requesting state and the 'Principal Advisor,' as well as consulting with FEMA leadership prior to the announcement of Stafford Act assistance under Section 420. This report answers frequently asked questions about FMAGs. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lindsay, Bruce R.; McCarthy, Francis X.; Hoover, Katie . . .
2014-09-25
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Wildfire Statistics [Updated November 16, 2018]
"Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Forest Service (FS)--within the U.S. Department of Agriculture--carries out wildfire management and response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System. The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations. Wildfire statistics help to illustrate past U.S. wildfire activity. Nationwide data compiled by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) indicate that the number of annual wildfires is variable but has stayed relatively constant over the last 30 years and that the number of acres burned annually, while also variable, generally has increased (see Figure 1). Every year since 2000, an average of 73,200 wildfires burned an average of 6.9 million acres. This figure is nearly double the average annual acreage burned in the 1990s (3.3 million acres), although a greater number of fires occurred annually (78,600 on average)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2018-11-16
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Wildfire Statistics [Updated September 3, 2019]
"Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Forest Service (FS)--within the U.S. Department of Agriculture--carries out wildfire management and response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System. The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie; Hanson, Laura A.
2019-09-03
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Federal Assistance for Wildfire Response and Recovery [Updated July 11, 2019]
From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires. Wildfires can have some beneficial impacts on an ecosystem, but they often threaten homes and communities and force the evacuation of thousands of people. Wildfires are often caused by lightning strikes, and may also occur when a prescribed burn escapes control or through unauthorized human activities (deliberate or accidental). Over the last 10 years (2009-2018), wildfires have burned 7.0 million acres annually on average in the United States. In 2018, more than 58,000 wildfires burned 8.8 million acres and destroyed nearly 25,800 structures nationwide. More than 70% (18,130) of the structures destroyed were residences, and approximately 94% of the structures destroyed (17,130) were in a single state, California."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2019-07-11
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Wildfire Statistics [Updated August 1, 2019]
From the Document: "Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped prescribed fire projects. States are responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on nonfederal (state, local, and private) lands, except for lands protected by federal agencies under cooperative agreements. The federal government is responsible for responding to wildfires that begin on federal lands. The Forest Service (FS)--within the U.S. Department of Agriculture--carries out wildfire management and response across the 193 million acres of the National Forest System. The Department of the Interior (DOI) manages wildfire response for more than 400 million acres of national parks, wildlife refuges and preserves, other public lands, and Indian reservations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie; Hanson, Laura A.
2019-08-01
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Reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 [January 21, 2015]
"Many counties are compensated for the tax-exempt status of federal lands. Counties with national forest lands and with certain Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands have historically received a percentage of agency revenues, primarily from timber sales. However, timber sales have declined substantially--by more than 90% in some areas--which had led to substantially reduced payments to the counties. Thus, Congress enacted the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (SRS; P.L. 106-393) as a temporary, optional program of payments based on historic rather than current revenues. Authorization for SRS payments originally expired at the end of FY2006, but the program was extended through FY2013 by several reauthorizations, starting with a one-year reauthorization for FY2007 (P.L. 110-28). In 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (P.L. 110-343) enacted a four-year extension to SRS authorization through FY2011, with declining payments, a modified formula, and transition payments for certain areas. In 2012, Congress enacted a oneyear extension through FY2012, and amended the program to slow the decline in payment levels and to tighten requirements that counties select a payment option promptly (P.L. 112-141). In 2013, Congress again enacted a one-year extension through FY2013 (P.L. 113-40). SRS payments are disbursed after the fiscal year ends, so the FY2013 SRS payment--the last authorized payment--was made in FY2014."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2015-01-21
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Wildfire Spending: Background, Issues, and Legislation in the 114th Congress [August 25, 2015]
"The federal government is responsible for managing wildfires that begin on federal lands-such
as national forests or national parks-while the states are responsible for managing wildfires that
originate on all other lands. The federal government's wildfire management responsibilities-
provided primarily through the Forest Service (FS) and Department of the Interior (DOI)-
include prevention, detection, response, and recovery. The Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) may also provide disaster relief for certain nonfederal wildfires. [...] Congress is debating the level and direction of federal spending on wildland fire management.
Wildfire spending has more than doubled since the 1990s, going from $1.6 billion in FY1994 to
$3.9 billion in FY2014. A significant portion of that increase is related to rising suppression costs,
even during years of relatively mild wildfire activity, although the costs vary annually and are
difficult to predict in advance."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie; Lindsay, Bruce R.; McCarthy, Francis X. . . .
2015-08-25
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Softwood Lumber Imports From Canada: Current Issues [August 27, 2015]
"Softwood lumber imports from Canada have been of concern to Congress for many years. Under
the Constitution, Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce and exercises authority
over trade relations with foreign nations. Lumber production is a significant industry in many
states, and U.S. lumber producers are concerned they are at an unfair competitive disadvantage in
the domestic market against Canadian lumber producers because of Canada's timber pricing
policies. This has resulted in four major disputes (so-called 'lumber wars') between the United
States and Canada since the 1980s. The last major dispute was resolved when the 2006 Softwood
Lumber Agreement (SLA) was signed. Under the agreement, Canadian softwood lumber shipped
to the United States is subject to export charges and quota limitations when the price of U.S.
softwood products falls below a certain level. That agreement is set to expire on October 12,
2015, although both countries are prohibited from filing for trade protections for one year after
the expiration."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie; Fergusson, Ian F.
2015-08-27
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Wildfire Management: Federal Funding and Related Statistics [February 4, 2015]
"Wildfires can have beneficial and harmful impacts on ecosystems (e.g., by reducing fuel loads, or by damaging communities and timber resources). These impacts are generally measured and discussed based on the priorities of humans in these ecosystems. Federal resources are typically deployed during wildfire season--an annual occurrence of intense wildfire activity typically running from summer into fall--to help manage wildfires and potentially minimize some of the impacts, including the loss of life and property. […] Federal funding for wildfire management is provided in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill funds wildfire management at the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior, which are the two principal entities tasked with federal wildfire management. Federal wildfire response activities involve preparedness, suppression, fuel reduction, site rehabilitation, and more. More than $3.4 billion was appropriated for wildfire management in FY2015. The total wildfire management appropriations for 2014 were more than $3.9 billion and included $600 million for the Forest Service to reimburse wildfire transfers that occurred in FY2013. […] Proposals to create alternative mechanisms for funding wildfire suppression have been introduced in the 114th Congress (H.R. 167 and S. 235). […] The proposals would fund wildfire suppression for a select group of fires--theoretically the most extreme fires--by creating a new adjustment to the statutory discretionary spending limits. This report provides wildfire management appropriations data for FY2011-FY2015 and information on the President's FY2016 budget request for wildland fire management. The report also provides general wildfire management statistics (e.g., numbers of wildfires, acres burned, and firefighter personnel)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie; Bracmort, Kelsi
2015-02-04
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Forest Service Appropriations: Five-Year Trends and FY2016 Budget Request [February 4, 2015]
"The Forest Service (FS) is responsible for managing 193 million acres of the National Forest System, as well as for conducting forestry research and providing assistance to state, local, private, and international forest owners. Funding to complete such work is provided through both discretionary and mandatory appropriations. In FY2015, the FS received $5.53 billion in both discretionary and mandatory appropriations. The FY2015 discretionary appropriation was $5.06 billion, slightly above the five-year average of $5.00 billion. FS discretionary appropriations are primarily divided among six main accounts: Forest and Rangeland Research (FRR); State and Private Forestry (S&PF); National Forest System (NFS); Capital Improvement and Maintenance (CI&M); Wildland Fire Management (WFM); and the FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve account established under the Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-88). The agency then allocates the appropriations from these accounts among the nine FS regions, five research stations, two service stations and laboratories, and national headquarters. Discretionary appropriations average 88% of the agency's total appropriations over the last five years."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2015-02-04
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Fire Management Assistance Grants: Frequently Asked Questions [August 29, 2017]
"Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93-288, hereinafter the Stafford Act) authorizes the President to 'declare' a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). These grants provide federal assistance for fire suppression activities. This authority has been delegated to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Regional Administrators. Once issued, the FMAG declaration authorizes various forms of federal assistance such as the provision of equipment, personnel, and grants to state, local, and tribal governments for the control, management, and mitigation of any fire on certain public or private forest land or grassland that might become a major disaster. This federal assistance requires a cost-sharing component such that state, local, and tribal governments are responsible for 25% of the expenses. The current FMAG system was established by regulation in October of 2001. Prior to that time, the program was known as the Fire Suppression Assistance Program. The program, however, was administered in a similar fashion. Then, as now, the FEMA Regional Administrators worked with the requesting state, the 'Principal Advisor,' as well as FEMA leadership prior to the announcement of Stafford Act assistance under Section 420."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lindsay, Bruce R.; Hoover, Katie
2017-08-29
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Wildfire Suppression Spending: Background, Issues, and Legislation in the 115th Congress [November 8, 2017]
"Congress has directed that the federal government is responsible for managing wildfires that begin on federal lands, such as national forests or national parks. States are responsible for managing wildfires that originate on all other lands. Although a greater number of wildfires occur annually on nonfederal lands, wildfires on federal lands tend to be much larger, particularly in the western United States. The federal government's wildfire management responsibilities--fulfilled primarily by the Forest Service (FS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI)--include preparedness, prevention, detection, response, suppression, and recovery. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also may provide disaster relief, mostly for certain nonfederal wildfires. Congress provides appropriations for wildfire management to both FS and DOI. Within these appropriations, suppression operations are largely funded through two accounts for each agency: Wildland Fire Management (WFM) accounts and Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement Act (FLAME) reserve accounts. If the suppression funding in both of these accounts is exhausted during a fiscal year, FS and DOI are authorized to transfer funds from their other accounts to pay for suppression activities; this is often referred to as 'fire borrowing.' Congress also may provide additional funds for suppression activities through emergency or supplemental appropriations. Thus, for any given year, total suppression appropriations to FS or DOI may be a combination of several sources: the WFM accounts, the FLAME accounts, additional funding as needed through transfers, and/or supplemental appropriations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie; Lindsay, Bruce R.
2017-11-08
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Federal Assistance for Wildfire Response and Recovery [June 27, 2018]
"Wildfires are unplanned and unwanted fires. Wildfires can have some beneficial impacts on an ecosystem, but also often threaten homes and communities and force the evacuation of thousands of people. Wildfires are often caused by lightning strikes, and may also occur when a prescribed burn escapes control or through unauthorized human activities (deliberate or accidental). Over the last 10 years (2008-2017), wildfires have burned 6.6 million acres annually on average in the United States. In 2017, more than 71,500 wildfires burned 10.0 million acres and destroyed more than 12,300 structures nationwide. More than 65% (8,065) of the structures destroyed were residences, and nearly 90% of the structures destroyed (11,000) were in a single state, California. Congress and other stakeholders have considered options for federal support and assistance to address wildfire suppression during a fire, post-wildfire recovery in the aftermath, and land management activities to reduce the risk of future catastrophic wildfires."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2018-06-27
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Fire Management Assistance Grants: Frequently Asked Questions [Updated February 14, 2019]
"Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93-288, hereinafter the Stafford Act) authorizes the President to 'declare' a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). In the interest of saving time, the authority to make the declaration has been delegated to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Regional Administrators. Once issued, the FMAG declaration authorizes various forms of federal fire suppression assistance such as the provision of equipment, personnel, and grants to state, local, and tribal governments for the control, management, and mitigation of any fire on certain public or private forest land or grassland that might become a major disaster. This federal assistance requires a cost-sharing component such that state, local, and tribal governments are responsible for 25% of the expenses. This report answers frequently asked questions about FMAGs. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lindsay, Bruce R.; Hoover, Katie
2019-02-14
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Wildfire Management Funding: Background, Issues, and FY2018 Appropriations [October 31, 2017]
"The federal government's wildfire (or wildland fire) management responsibilities are fulfilled primarily by the Forest Service (FS, in the U.S. Department of Agriculture) and the Department of the Interior (DOI). These responsibilities include prevention, detection, response, and recovery related to fires that begin on federal lands. These responsibilities are accomplished through activities such as preparedness, suppression, fuel reduction, and site rehabilitation, among others. There are several ongoing concerns regarding federal wildfire management. These concerns include the total federal costs of wildfire management, the strategies and resources used for wildfire management, and the impact of wildfire on both the quality of life and the economy of communities surrounding wildfire activity. Many of these issues are of perennial interest to Congress, with annual wildfire management appropriations being one indicator of how Congress prioritizes and addresses certain wildfire management concerns. [...] Congress is debating several issues related to federal funding for wildfire management. They include the level of federal spending on wildland fire management as well as the effectiveness of that spending (e.g., whether the funding is allowing agencies to meet wildfire management targets). [...] This report provides an overview of the accounts that fund wildfire management activities and historical wildfire management appropriations data, as well as information on FY2018 appropriations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2017-10-31
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Wildfire Suppression Spending: Background, Issues, and Legislation in the 115th Congress
"Congress has directed that the federal government is responsible for managing wildfires that begin on federal lands, such as national forests or national parks. States are responsible for managing wildfires that originate on all other lands. Although a greater number of wildfires occur annually on nonfederal lands, wildfires on federal lands tend to be much larger, particularly in the western United States. The federal government's wildfire management responsibilities--fulfilled primarily by the Forest Service (FS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI)--include preparedness, prevention, detection, response, suppression, and recovery. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also may provide disaster relief, mostly for certain nonfederal wildfires. Congress provides appropriations for wildfire management to both FS and DOI. Within these appropriations, suppression operations are largely funded through two accounts for each agency: Wildland Fire Management (WFM) accounts and Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement Act (FLAME) reserve accounts. If the suppression funding in both of these accounts is exhausted during any given fiscal year, FS and DOI are authorized to transfer funds from their other accounts to pay for suppression activities; this is often referred to as 'fire borrowing.' Congress also may provide additional funds for suppression activities through emergency or supplemental appropriations. Thus, for any given year, total suppression appropriations to FS or DOI may be a combination of several sources: the WFM accounts, the FLAME accounts, additional funding as needed through transfers, and/or supplemental appropriations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie; Lindsay, Bruce R.
2017-10-05
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PILT (Payments in Lieu of Taxes): Somewhat Simplified [October 5, 2017]
"Under federal law, local governments (usually counties) are compensated through various programs for reductions to their property tax bases due to the presence of most federally owned land. Federal lands cannot be taxed but may create a demand for services such as fire protection, police cooperation, or longer roads to skirt the federal property. Some compensation programs are run by a specific agency and apply only to that agency's land. This report addresses only the most widely applicable program, which is called Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT; 31 U.S.C. §§69016907) and is administered by the Department of the Interior (DOI); in FY2016, there were 2,227 counties with lands eligible for PILT payments. Eligible lands consist of those in the National Park System (NPS), National Forest System (NFS), or Bureau of Land Management (BLM); certain lands in the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS); and several other specified federal lands. Congress has repeatedly debated the level of PILT funding. The authorized level of PILT payments is calculated using a complex formula. No precise dollar figure can be given in advance for each year's PILT authorized level. Five factors affect the calculation of a payment to a given county: (1) the number of acres eligible for PILT payments, (2) the county's population, (3) payments in prior years from other specified federal land payment programs, (4) state laws directing payments to a particular government purpose, and (5) the Consumer Price Index as calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If the appropriation for PILT funding is less than the full authorized amount, each county receives a prorated payment."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2017-10-05
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Reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 [February 26, 2013]
"Many counties are compensated for the tax-exempt status of federal lands. Counties with national forest lands and with certain Bureau of Land Management lands have historically received a percentage of agency revenues, primarily from timber sales. However, timber sales have declined substantially--by more than 90% in some areas. Thus, Congress enacted the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (SRS; P.L. 106-393) as a temporary, optional program of payments based on historic, rather than current, revenues. Authorization for SRS payments originally expired at the end of FY2006, but through several reauthorizations the program was extended through FY2012. Congressional debates over reauthorization considered the basis and level of compensation (historical, tax equivalency, etc.); the source of funds (receipts, a new tax or revenue source, etc.); the authorized and required uses of the payments; interaction with other compensation programs (notably Payments in Lieu of Taxes); and the duration of any changes (temporary or permanent). In addition, legislation with mandatory spending, such as SRS reauthorization, raises policy questions about increasing the deficit; current budget rules to restrain deficit spending typically impose a procedural barrier to such legislation, generally requiring offsets by additional receipts or reductions in other mandatory spending."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2013-02-26
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Reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 [November 14, 2013]
"Many counties are compensated for the tax-exempt status of federal lands. Counties with national forest lands and with certain Bureau of Land Management lands have historically received a percentage of agency revenues, primarily from timber sales. However, timber sales have declined substantially--by more than 90% in some areas. Thus, Congress enacted the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (SRS; P.L. 106-393) as a temporary, optional program of payments based on historic, rather than current, revenues. Authorization for SRS payments originally expired at the end of FY2006, but through several reauthorizations the program was extended through FY2012. Congressional debates over reauthorization considered the basis and level of compensation (historical, tax equivalency, etc.); the source of funds (receipts, a new tax or revenue source, etc.); the authorized and required uses of the payments; interaction with other compensation programs (notably Payments in Lieu of Taxes); and the duration of any changes (temporary or permanent). In addition, legislation with mandatory spending, such as SRS reauthorization, raises policy questions about increasing the deficit; current budget rules to restrain deficit spending typically impose a procedural barrier to such legislation, generally requiring offsets by additional receipts or reductions in other mandatory spending."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoover, Katie
2013-11-14
