{"id":20955,"date":"2024-11-14T09:40:41","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T14:40:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/?p=20955"},"modified":"2024-12-06T09:41:59","modified_gmt":"2024-12-06T14:41:59","slug":"more-than-5m-for-hazardous-fuels-transportation-projects-to-reduce-wildfire-risk-in-or","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/es\/more-than-5m-for-hazardous-fuels-transportation-projects-to-reduce-wildfire-risk-in-or\/","title":{"rendered":"More than $5M for Hazardous Fuels Transportation Projects to reduce wildfire risk in OR"},"content":{"rendered":"

KPIC<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A portion of $20-million in funds, efforted by the U.S. Forest Service, is headed to Oregon to help reduce the risk of wildfires across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Thursday, November 14, 2024, that the state is set to receive $5,416,405 from the Inflation Reduction Act, for hazardous fuels transportation projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTaking the offensive against wildfires with federal investments just like these are a must to reduce the risk of bigger and more destructive blazes threatening lives and property throughout Oregon,\u201d said Wyden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the senators the federal funds would help reduce the risk of wildfires by moving hazardous fuels, such as dead brush, tree limbs, and more, from national forests and grasslands to facilities for use in wood products\/energy production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c2024 was another record-breaking year for wildfires burning acres across our state, especially devastating in Eastern Oregon. We need an all-hands-on-deck approach to combat and help prevent these destructive fires,\u201d said Merkley, who serves as chair of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the U.S. Forest Service. \u201cThis federal funding that the Forest Service is investing in our industries and communities hardest hit by mill closures is a tremendous economic boost, while reducing wildfire risk across Oregon. I will continue to tackle climate chaos with the urgency it demands, as increasingly frequent and severe wildfires threaten our homes, businesses, and way of life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Oregonians in those communities suffered greatly this past year from infernos burning nearly 2 million acres in our state, and these federal funds will provide opportunities for them to fight back effectively.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The eight projects selected in Oregon are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n