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Posted by: thepinetree on 03/09/2009 12:43 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 03/09/2009 12:48 PM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM
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Forest Service Contributes to National Economic Recovery ~By Pat Kaunert
Sonora, Calif., March 9, 2009 – U.S. Forest Service Chief Abigail Kimbell announced today the Agency’s plan to participate in the nation’s economic recovery program. The Forest Service has received $1.15 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The first groups of Forest Service projects nationwide funded by the ARRA, totaling $98 million, have been selected. These initial projects will create 1,500 jobs, giving the Agency the early opportunity to put people to work. The remaining projects, totaling $1.052 billion, will be announced shortly and will create an additional 23,500 jobs nationwide...
First round projects on lands managed by the Forest Service in California will include maintenance and construction on facilities, roads and trails totaling 70 jobs and $7.75 million. The jobs are estimated to last from four months up to a year. Tuolumne County is among 11 counties that will benefit from the first round of these projects.
The Granite Sawlog/Biomass Removal project on the Stanislaus National Forest will receive $186,000 to complete road maintenance work necessary to continue the thinning of plantations and removal of hazardous fuels that have grown on the acres burned in the 1973 Granite Fire. Part of the Granite Stewardship contract was awarded to Sierra Resource Management, Inc. in 2004. Components of the project are still unfunded by the Forest Service. Completion of the road maintenance portion of the project will help clear the way to finish the hazardous fuels removal portion in the future. Funding for that part of the project will be considered in later rounds of ARRA funding.
“Some economic stimulus money, flowing through the Forest Service, has been designated for infrastructure improvements and future funds may be available for thinning the forest and removing hazardous fuels,” said Mike Albrecht, president of Sierra Resource Management, Inc. “It’s important to maintain the roads we need to complete thinning work and haul merchantable materials out of the forest. The Granite Project represents forest management at its best and I am thankful to see funding available that will allow us to complete this important work.”
Under the language of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Forest Service will create as many jobs as possible to support communities and to get money flowing through the economy again. All funds will be spent on specific targeted projects that are, or soon will be, ready to go.
“I am pleased that economic recovery money will help create private sector jobs for Californians here on the Stanislaus National Forest,” said Forest Supervisor Susan Skalski. “Not only will it help to move us closer to the important work of reducing hazardous fuels through thinning on the forest, but it will create local jobs that are much needed in our community.”
“The Forest Service anticipates playing a key role in our nation’s economic recovery,” said Chief Kimbell. “We are grateful for the confidence Congress has shown us and look forward to demonstrating how the Forest Service can create good jobs during difficult times,” Kimbell added.
Many of the most affected communities of the economic downturn are located near national forests. Rural jobs will be created in areas needing restoration work with shovel ready projects related to fire prevention, roads, bridges, buildings and recreation facilities.
More detailed information about new Forest Service projects and jobs in California will be forthcoming.
Information on the overall U.S. Forest Service role in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act can be found at: http://fs.usda.gov/recovery. Information on the total federal effort can be found at http://www.recovery.gov.
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