Kelly Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Remove Wildfire Fuel from Arizona’s Forests

Read in Arizona Daily Sun: Sen. Kelly introduces bill to bolster wildfire fuel reduction efforts

Today, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Curtis (R-UT), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced the bipartisan Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act to help communities and forest managers remove woody biomass-material left behind from forest thinning operations meant to prevent wildfires-that, if left in place, actually increases wildfire risk.

In Arizona, the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) alone thins over 15,000 acres of Arizona forest per year. When forests are mechanically thinned to reduce wildfire risk, the process generates large volumes of woody biomass. Transporting the material out of the forest is costly without financial support, so it gets left behind in piles, increasing wildfire risk and limiting the effectiveness of thinning operations. Skyrocketing diesel prices driven by Trump's war in Iran have made the problem worse, with operators seeing costs spike by over a third earlier this year.

Last summer, the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires together burned more than 200,000 acres on the Grand Canyon's North Rim, destroying the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and forcing evacuations. Kelly flew over the damage with the Park Service and met with owners of the Kaibab Lodge and Jacob Lake Inn, hearing how the fires had devastated the summer tourism season their businesses depend on.

"Arizona communities know firsthand the toll of wildfires on natural habitats, the economy, and personal lives,especially after the fires at the Grand Canyon last year," said Kelly. "Thinning the forest is only half the job. This legislation will help get the material left behind out of the forest to prevent more wildfires and support the jobs, businesses, and forest restoration projects so many Arizona families depend on."

"New Mexico's forests have become overcrowded with dead trees, brush, and other flammable debris that fuel catastrophic wildfires - and too often, the cost of hauling that material out is what stops the work from getting done," said Luján. "I'm proud to join Senator Kelly in introducing the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act to break that bottleneck, get this dangerous buildup out of our forests, and support the rural businesses and workers doing the job. This is a commonsense step to reduce wildfire risk and keep New Mexico communities safer."

"I'm proud to join Senators Kelly and Luján in introducing legislation that will mitigate transportation barriers and facilitate the removal of hazardous fuels materials from the forest floor. Expanding this essential financial support will improve forest management, reduce the frequency and intensity of fires, and help strengthen wildfire mitigation efforts," said Schiff.

"Across Utah and the West, we know that active forest management is essential to reducing wildfire risk and protecting communities. But when the cost of hauling woody biomass becomes a barrier, hazardous fuels can remain on the landscape and undermine the very restoration work designed to make forests safer," said Curtis. "Our commonsense, bipartisan bill helps get that material out of our forests, supports rural economies, and gives local partners the tools they need to better steward our public lands."

"For too long, effective management of our national forests has been hampered by litigation and regulatory obstacles, allowing hazardous fuels to accumulate and increase the risk of catastrophic wildfires, pests, and disease," said Hyde-Smith. "Making use of these hazardous fuels, like the storm-damaged trees in Mississippi's national forest, would be made more affordable through this bipartisan legislation."

The legislation is supported by the National Forest Foundation, Eastern Arizona Counties Organization, The Nature Conservancy, Ecological Restoration Institute, Southwest Biochar, Greater Flagstaff Forest Partnership, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Southwest Loggers Association, American Biomass Energy Association, American Loggers Council,National Association of State Foresters, and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

"Removing hazardous fuels is one of the most effective long-term investments we can make for the health and resilience of our nation's forests," said Dan Stellar, State Director at The Nature Conservancy in Arizona. "Transportation costs are one of the biggest economic hurdles to doing this work at scale, and this legislation helps overcome that barrier so we can protect our forests. We're grateful for Senator Kelly's leadership in advancing this commonsense solution to one of the most pressing challenges facing our nation's forests."

"The American Biomass Energy Association truly appreciates the leadership of Sen. Kelly and his cosponsors on the Hazardous Fuel Transportation Act. This bill will reduce the costs of transporting low-value wood cleared from forests to biomass power generation facilities. It will enable more biomass to be utilized as fuel for energy production rather than being discarded or open-burned. We are proud to be part of the solution to reducing wildfire risk and we look forward to working with Sen. Kelly and his colleagues to help pass this bill," said Carrie Annand, Executive Director, American Biomass Energy Association.

"Hazardous fuels treatment is a proven way to reduce wildfire risk in communities across the country, but the high cost of transporting biomass remains a significant barrier to scaling this work. The National Forest Foundation believes the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act is a meaningful step forward to expand restoration efforts, reduce wildfire risk, support rural economies, and strengthen markets for biomass generated through active forest management," said Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl, President & CEO, National Forest Foundation.

"The American Loggers Council worked with the American Biomass Energy Association and the U.S. Forest Service to demonstrate that removing hazardous fuels from forests and converting them to renewable energy is feasible and effective. That work led to the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance (HFTA) grant program which scaled up forest treatment across the country. Senator Kelly and the other original cosponsors' introduction of the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Act will ensure this critical work continues to mitigate wildfire threats and protect property and people," said Scott Dane, Executive Director, American Loggers Council.

"The National Wild Turkey Federation strongly supports the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Act. Safely and efficiently moving low-value material generated from forest restoration and wildfire mitigation projects remains one of the greatest barriers to improving forest health and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire. With mills often located far from project areas, transportation costs can be prohibitive. The Hazardous Fuels Transportation Grant Program provides a practical, targeted solution to keep this material moving, support active management and deliver real on-the-ground benefits for forests and communities," said Kurt Dyroff, Co-CEO, National Wild Turkey Federation.

"Arizona has already utilized substantial funding from this program to treat hazardous fuels across our state. As we scale up forest treatment activities in the coming years, having dedicated transportation assistance for biomass makes the difference between protecting our forests and leaving hazardous fuel on the ground, waiting to ignite. Senator Kelly's legislation will keep this program running and help us treat more acres, protect more communities, and build more resilient forests across Arizona," said Thomas Torres, Director and State Forester, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.

Background:

The Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance program was established through the Inflation Reduction Act. The Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act would reauthorize and codify the program by:

• Establishing a program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide grants to for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, and other entities to alleviate transportation-related economic barriers to biomass removal from hazardous fuels management activities.
• Allowing grants to support:
  • Transportation of hazardous fuels to processing facilities.
  • Costs associated with woodyards, loading facilities, scales, and custom chipping
  • Purchase, lease, maintenance, or modification of equipment that facilitate the transport of hazardous fuels.
  • Workforce development, including training and certifications.
• Prioritizing projects that would treat hazardous fuels in high-risk fire sheds, support development or expansion of wood processing facilities, and encourage collaboration among industrial, state/local, and/or tribal partners.
• Authorize $25 million in funding, consistent with previous appropriations, annually for 2026 through 2030 with a $3 million cap per award, of which up to $250,000 of an award may be used for the purchase of equipment. Grants provide a federal cost-share of 75%, except for Tribes, which are eligible for a 90% federal cost-share.

Click here to read the full text of the bill and here for a one-pager.