On December 16, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) introduced the Post-Wildfire Environmental Assistance Act, bipartisan legislation that would allow the federal government to help pay for hazardous debris cleanup following wildfires, even when damage does not meet the threshold for a major disaster declaration.
The bill would amend the Stafford Act to authorize the president to provide federal assistance for debris removal from public and private lands and waterways regardless of disaster status. It would also permit the Environmental Protection Agency to offer guidance and technical assistance to states and local governments to ensure the safe removal of toxic materials left behind by burned structures and vehicles.
Currently, communities that fall short of a major disaster declaration are ineligible for federal cleanup funding, leaving states and residents responsible for hazardous debris that can contaminate air, water, and soil. Senator Merkley said the bill was prompted by the June Rowena wildfire in Oregon, where communities were unable to access federal aid for cleanup despite widespread damage. The legislation would assist California’s rural counties, and other communities across the nation, struggling to navigate wildfire cleanup.
For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton.