Comment Log Display

I am very pleased to see some indications that you will be
attempting to measure the carbon output of such phenomena as
wildfire. My understanding is it has annually exceeded carbon
storage in our forests. To me that places a premium on supporting
programs such as the Sierra Nevada Conservancy' Watershed
improvement Program which is trying to take a strategic approach to
reducing the risk of fire ignitions in the Sierra and the amount of
carbon risk from catastrophic -as distinguished from normal less
intensive-fire.

You mention sustaining local economies and I realize that most of
that was focused on Environmental justice situations. I think it is
necessary to point out that in many rural areas of the Sierra the
communities have very high levels of poverty and some ethnic
diversity. You do not need to change the EJ definition but please
when considering areas like the Sierra outside the tourist
destinations be aware that new jobs in the woods or related
facilities would be a godsend.

On page 13 there is mention of short term cost vs long term gain in
the forests. I am sure you are aware that removing flammable
material from the forest and burning it in gasification plants
would reduce carbon release by 97% compared with field burning (and
a long term release from just leaving the material there. Thus the
short term price is very low. and BioChar and heat are byproducts
which may have adde value as offsets.

Finally in every concept you limit the forest land to "non Federal"
land. I am a member of and supporter of the Pacific Forest Trust
but they are dead wrong on this point. Perhaps private land owners
do need to benefit more but the Federal lands are much too
important to the fire picture in the Sierra and throughout the
State to be summarily dismissed. There is no way we are going to
see the levels of Federal funding required to get ahead of this
problem any time soon. There needs to be a willingness to consider
supporting work on Federal Lands if the maintenance of that work is
assured to a degree similar to that on private lands. It take more
than a conservation easement and one time thinning to really
solving this problem. We desperately need funds for ongoing
maintenance of restored lands and the ARB should be part of that
process. Robert C Kirkwood 1221 Waverley St Palo alto Calif 94301.