, D.C. – Bipartisan legislation that will expand and improve avalanche protection programs has been introduced by U.S. Reps. Don Young (R-Alaska) and Mark Udall (D-CO).
The legislation - The Federal Land Avalanche Protection Act of 2007 (H.R. 1751) – is designed to reduce the risks of avalanches on Federal lands and alleviate the effects on users of those lands, the neighboring areas, and the local transportation and utility passages.
“Avalanches are a major concern in Alaska and this legislation reflects many of the concerns local, state and federal officials have expressed to me that must be addressed on an immediate basis,†said Young, the Ranking Member on the House Committee on Natural Resources.
“In the past 20 years, there has been an average of 13 deaths per year due to avalanches in the United States. There is also a significant risk to clean-up crews on public highways and railways.
“Unfortunately, Alaska has the highest total and per capita number of deaths due to avalanches. Yet, we are the only state that does not have a statewide government-funded avalanche program. This bill will correct this problem and provide improved and expanded measures to other at-risk communities,†Young said.
"This is important legislation for Colorado. Together, Colorado and Alaska lead the nation in the number of avalanche fatalities, and the tragic events of this winter reminded us all about the danger and the importance of reducing the threat of avalanches. That’s the purpose of this bill, and I am going to work with Rep. Young to pass it in this Congress," said Udall.
Under H.R. 1751, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a coordinated avalanche protection program to:
- Identify the potential for avalanches on Federal lands and inform the public about the probability of such avalanches and their potential adverse effects on neighboring communities, transportation and utility corridors;
- Carry out ongoing research regarding the causes of avalanche development in order to improve forecasting of avalanche events; and
- Reduce the risks of avalanches on Federal lands and mitigate their effects on users of those lands, neighboring communities, and transportation and utility corridors.
For more information, access the Committee on Natural Resources’ Minority website at:
http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.shtml
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