The House of Representatives unanimously approved H.R. 3846, the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004, introduced by Resources Committee Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-Calif.). The legislation establishes a process for tribes to work with federal agencies to perform hazardous fuels reduction and forest health projects on federal lands adjacent to tribal lands to prevent catastrophic wildfire.

“As another devastating fire season begins in the West, the House has acted again to ensure forest health and the tribal government's right to protect their lands from catastrophic wildfire,” said Pombo. “By actively involving tribal governments in forest fuel reduction and health projects, Congress is sending a strong message to federal land managers and the American people that we are serious about addressing wildfire in the west.”

In the summer of 2003, nearly 20 Indian reservations were devastated by wildfire that came from adjacent federal lands. More than half occurred in Southern California, where more than 30,000 acres and 130 homes were consumed, killing 10 people. Two of the reservations were burned entirely to the ground.

“Cooperation with Indian tribes is key to the success of our ongoing efforts to properly manage our forests in rural Arizona,” said Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) in a press statement. “This common-sense legislation allows tribes, the true and original stewards of our land, to assist in the removal of hazardous fuels from our forests and reduce the risk of wildfire.”

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) has worked closely with Pombo on the legislation and introduced a companion bill in the Senate, S. 2134.

“California Tribes have suffered from devastating wildfires in recent years,” she Feinstein said. “Passage of this act is an important step forward in preventing more of these tragedies on tribal lands. By involving tribes in brush-clearing projects on federal lands near their reservations, this legislation will give Native American Tribes across the country the chance to protect their ancestral lands from catastrophic fires.”