The 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill was approved by House and Senate conferees last week and only awaits the President's signature.  For Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition participants, there are some very real reasons to be excited about this year’s bill.  The Forest Service will receive $5.3 billion and the FS non-fire budget will be $2.78 billion, $74 million above the administration request and $166.4 million above the 2009 allocation.

Highlights of the bill:

FLAME – Wildfire Suppression Funding

Topping the list of highlights is the creation of the FLAME fund to address the impact the wildfire suppression budget is having on regular agency programs. The 2010 Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations bill establishes two FLAME funds; one for the Department of the Interior funded at $61 million and one for the Forest Service funded at $413 million in FY2010. The conference report language encourages well thought-out suppression planning from year to year through a new approach to budgeting for both the FLAME funds and the wildland fire management appropriations. Congress expects the administration to move away from using a 10-year rolling average in estimating future fire costs and to use a more predictive formula that will eliminate the need for transfers.  RVCC participants consistently ranked the impact of the fire suppression budget on Forest Service operations as a high priority for action and worked diligently to encourage a solution, including writing an issue paper and participating directly on education and outreach related to the FLAME legislation.  We anticipate that this new approach will help solve this longstanding problem. 

Forest Landscape Restoration Act

Another important element in this year’s Appropriations bill is the $10 million dollar appropriation to begin implementing the Forest Landscape Restoration Act.
FLRA was recently authorized for $40 million to be competitively awarded to large landscapes across the nation so they receive sustained funding for fuels treatments that implement a collaboratively developed and science-based ecological restoration plan.

Economic Action Program

The Economic Action Program, tirelessly supported by RVCC participants, survived defeat again this year. $5 million dollars was allocated to this program in 2010. EAP is currently the only Forest Service program authorized to provide business assistance to natural resource based businesses that support the mission of the Agency.

Ensuring accountability on employment and work place safety for guest workers.

This year’s appropriations bill included report language directing the Agency to report on employment and workplace safety violations related to guest workers.  This language will help foster needed improvements in working conditions for forest service workers.

RVCC Priority Line Item Round-up

Many RVCC priority line items received significant increases over 2009 funding levels, including a $22 million increase in Hazardous Fuels, a $20.4 million increase in State Fire Assistance, and a $11.2 million increase in the two NFS line items that primarily fund ecosystem restoration and stewardship.*  See a summary of these increases (in millions):