Tahoe's assemblyman weighs in on fire commish

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Steve Davey

March 7, 2008 (916) 319-2004



ASSEMBLYMAN GAINES ADDRESSES AND COMMENDS
CALIFORNIA-NEVADA TAHOE BASIN FIRE COMMISSION

Calls Commission’s work ‘fundamental’ in efforts to update, refine regulatory practices



SACRAMENTO – Approaching the one year mark of the devastating Lake Tahoe Angora Fire, Assemblyman Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, today addressed the members of the California-Nevada Tahoe Basin Fire Commission, the body charged with proposing changes to government policy to prevent future wildfires from devastating the community.



“While I am encouraged by the hard work of the Commission over the past year, I am saddened that we had to create a commission in the first place after such a devastating fire,” Gaines said. “Too often, state government only operates when there is a crisis, and the Commission’s work is a solemn reminder of the great tragedy that needlessly impacted so many in our community. If we only employed adequate and proper forest-management practices in the Tahoe basin in years past, we may have prevented the Angora Fire in the first place.”



The California-Nevada Tahoe Basin Fire Commission is composed of 17 voting members from Nevada and California, and will compile and present findings and recommendations to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons on how to reduce the region’s fire threat in the future by March 21.



It is expected that many of the Commission’s recommendations will aim to reduce burdensome regulations imposed by environmental regulatory agencies that have limited the ability of home owners and business owners to take steps to protect their property.

Gaines commended the Commission for their efforts at cutting government red tape, easing burdensome regulations, and working toward a safer and cleaner Lake Tahoe .



“Now that the Commission is completing their work, I encourage Governors Schwarzenegger and Gibbons to take a serious look at their recommendations and take steps to implement those that make sense for our region without delay,” Gaines said. “If there is a silver lining to the Angora Fire, it is the opportunity we now have to reform the ineffective forest management practices of the past. I hope we will implement the Commission’s recommendations as soon as possible to better protect our community.”



Assemblyman Ted Gaines represents the 4th Assembly District, which includes portions of Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado & Alpine Counties.



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