SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 4

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Phil A. Griego

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR AND THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SEEK FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FOR REMOVAL OF DEAD TREES POSING A FIRE HAZARD.

     WHEREAS, the recent wildfires in California provide a lesson to New Mexico and an impetus to address its wildfire hazard, which exists in the form of forests of dead trees killed by the bark beetle infestation; and

     WHEREAS, California Governor Gray Davis had requested fire prevention assistance from the federal emergency management agency last April; and

     WHEREAS, his request was initially ignored and was then formally turned down in October, after thousands of homes and many lives were lost; and

     WHEREAS, California now must receive disaster assistance from the federal emergency management agency; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has also experienced disastrous wildfires that destroyed homes, businesses and forest resources, and communities located near forests are again in jeopardy; and

     WHEREAS, salvage operations in forests near communities such as Santa Fe, Pecos, Las Vegas and Los Alamos could provide needed employment for New Mexicans, as well as fuel wood to heat homes this winter;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor and the congressional delegation be requested to seek funds from the federal emergency management agency to remove dead trees killed by the bark beetle infestation and thus reduce the wildfire hazard; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor and to the congressional delegation.

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