Comment Log Display

The Board of Directors of California Fire Safe Council (Board)
urges the Air Resources Board to focus cap and trade auction
proceeds to support healthy forests and watersheds across
California. Particularly, the Board expresses the urgent need for
funding for fuel reduction and hazard mitigation projects in areas
hardest hit by the drought-related tree mortality. 

On October 30, 2015, Governor Edmund G. Brown declared a state of
emergency in response to the widespread tree mortality caused by
severe drought conditions and epidemic pest infestations. As
California endures its fourth year of extreme drought conditions,
immediate action must be taken to remove dead and dying trees from
the landscape to reduce the risk to public safety and
infrastructure.

Funding is urgently needed for fuel reduction and hazard mitigation
projects in areas hardest hit by the drought-related tree
mortality. CFSC offers its reputable Grants Clearinghouse as an
efficient vehicle for delivering wildfire prevention and hazard
mitigation funds for work on private and non-federal land to tackle
the issue.

As a statewide 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, CFSC supports and
advocates on behalf of over 200 local Fire Safe Councils and
Firewise Communities. Since 1993, CFSC has worked in partnership
with the federal fire agencies as well as CAL FIRE, local fire
districts, insurance companies, utilities and local citizens. CFSC
receives fire prevention grants from federal agencies to provide
subgrants to Fire Safe Councils, fire departments, resource
conservation districts and other organizations to implement
hazardous fuel reduction projects, wildfire mitigation planning,
and community education and outreach programs across California. 

Since 2004, the innovative Grants Clearinghouse funding mechanism
has awarded over 900 grants totaling more than $85 million, thanks
to financial support from the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land
Management, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. In total, these dollars have protected 2,450,000 homes and
10,300,000 residents. However, current funding only allows CFSC to
fund 30% of the applications it receives for hazardous fuel
reduction projects and community education and planning programs
throughout the state. Each year, dozens of quality projects go
unfunded leaving communities without vital fire prevention and
mitigation work.  

The U.S. Forest Service estimates that over 22 million trees are
dead and tens of millions more are likely to die by the end of the
year. Southern California Edison reports that over 200,000 dead and
dying trees currently impact powerlines and infrastructure within
its territory. Pacific Gas & Electric has also experienced
unprecedented tree mortality along its overhead, electric
distribution system – with 2015 totals nearly 100% above its
2010-2014 five-year average.

CFSC expresses grave concern that the dead and dying trees across
the state pose a direct threat to homes and infrastructure. This is
a public safety concern that needs to be addressed through
immediate removal of the hazardous vegetation. Projects funded
through the Grants Clearinghouse involve hazardous fuels reduction
throughout the state’s forests and wildland urban interface to
mitigate the impact of wildfire on communities. The projects are
linked to approved community wildfire protection plans (CWPP) and
fire management plans. Many projects have the dual benefit of
removing excess fuel, small trees and undergrowth, producing
biomass material which can be utilized for energy production.

The Board thanks the Air Resources Board for the opportunity to
submit comments in response to the Draft Second Investment Plan for
cap and trade auction proceeds. We look forward to viewing the
final version of the plan in the governor’s budget in January. 


Sincerely,

/s/ Jerry Davies
Chairman / CEO
jerrydavies55@gmail.com
(805) 559-0082