Daines Calls for Greater Flexibility for Montana Rural Electric Co-ops

Press Release

Representative Steve Daines today called on the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to provide Montana's rural electric cooperatives with greater flexibility in treating at-risk trees surrounding transmission rights-of-way found on federal land.

During today's House Committee on Natural Resources oversight hearing on "Keeping the Lights On and Reducing Catastrophic Forest Fire Risk: Proper Management of Electricity Rights of Way on Federal Lands," Daines highlighted the challenges that Montana electric co-ops face as they work to protect the integrity of transmission lines in Montana's National Forests.

"The Missoula Electric Cooperative has dealt with these challenges associated with lines running through federal forests and hazardous fuels," Daines stated. "After increasing frustration with the lack of ability to prevent fire damage in the right-of-way, the co-op had submitted a request to replace a number of miles of overhead lines with underground in December. Just this month the Forest Service has finally indicated they're going to evaluate their request. The Forest Service has recognized the problem in its agreement with the co-op but has delayed their action to begin the process of finding a solution. The result is increasing fire risk, more costly liability for the utility and less reliability for the lines."

The hearing examined the need for improved management and better communication with electric utilities on electricity rights of way on federal lands so that falling, dead, insect-infested, or even growing trees do not hit power lines. Witnesses noted that delays in USFS responding to electric co-op's maintenance requests has prevented the timely resolution of line maintenance issues.

Witnesses at today's hearing joined Daines in noting that the permitting process for electric cooperatives works more efficiently and effectively at the state and local levels than the national level. Daines called for greater accountability and oversight in how the USFS works with Montana's rural electric co-ops and pressed the USFS to provide co-ops with greater flexibility in maintaining transmission lines on federal lands.

Daines noted that his forest management legislation, theRestoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act (H.R. 1526), which was passed by the House last year with bipartisan support, would help provide greater local control in the management of public lands and would help mitigate some of the risks facing power lines in Federal Forests through the improved management of forestland.

"One solution, which is an aspect of the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, is allowing state and local governments and individuals in local communities to be more involved in managing public lands," Daines stated."The Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act would restore active management of our forests and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and damage to utility lines."

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