Bark beetle mitigation.

WORKING DRAFT

ORIGINAL SENATE
JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.
0007

ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 4, SENATE

SIXTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2011 GENERAL SESSION

A JOINT RESOLUTION
requesting Congress, state and local authorities to take action to mitigate
damages caused by bark
beetles
and to prevent future damages and epidemics
.

WHEREAS,
it is recognized that bark beetles
exist in epidemic
quantities in
Wyoming

and that this epidemic represents a significant threat to the use and enjoyment of
Wyoming
's lands; and

WHEREAS, this epidemic has killed or is threatening approximately
three
million
one hundred thousand
(
3
,
1
00,000) acres of forested land
s
in
Wyoming
; and

WHEREAS, as this epidemic kills trees in Wyoming's forests, those trees eventually fall and block roadways and trails, close campgrounds, destroy utilities, threaten structures and other property and jeopardize utility and other rights-of-way; and

WHEREAS,
this epidemic presents a significant threat to Wyoming's environmental and economic prosperity due to the threat of wildfires,
destruction
of wildlife habitat, threat of mudslides, decreases in water and air quality, loss of recreational areas, loss of tourism and
outfitting
revenue and the st
aggering costs of remediation; and

WHEREAS, federal, state and local agencies have
begun working
together to address the problems created by the
epidemic and have enjoyed success in starting to remediate the damages being caused by the epidemic; and

WHEREAS,
significant additional remediation efforts are necessary to minimize the impacts of this epidemic and
to
assure
Wyoming
's continued environmental and economic prosperity.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WYOMING
:

Section 1.
That the Wyoming Legislature calls on Congress and federal agencies to fund and support
,
at
heightened

levels
,
efforts to remediate damages
and allow for the timely harvest of dead trees
caused by
the bark beetle
epidemic in Wyoming and surrounding states.

Section 2.
That the Wyoming Legislature calls on Congress in conjunction with all appropriate state and local governments to engage in cooperative efforts to
remediate
and minimize the impacts of the
bark beetle
epidemic. These efforts should include the
development and improvement of
short and long range planning to limit the present and future spread of the epidemic and to limit the
impacts and
cost
s associated with the epidemic. These efforts should include work to stop the spread of the epidemic and pr
event its reoccurrence through p
r
e
ventative vegetation management practices.

Section 3
.
That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to
the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress and to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.

Section 4.
That the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House transmit a copy of this resolution to the Council of State Governments-WEST as the official position of the Wyoming Legislature.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

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