Bill Overview
Title: Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Act of 2021
Description: This bill directs the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to jointly establish a commission to study and make recommendations to improve federal policies relating to wildland fire prevention, mitigation, suppression, management, and rehabilitation. The Department of Defense and other relevant federal departments and agencies must submit to the commission an inventory of surplus cargo and passenger aircraft and excess common-use aircraft parts that may be used for wildland firefighting purposes.
Sponsors: Sen. Romney, Mitt [R-UT]
Target Audience
Population: People impacted by wildland fires
Estimated Size: 70000000
- Wildland fires primarily occur in forested and rural areas, thus affecting communities in these regions.
- Wildland fires can impact air quality, affecting individuals with respiratory issues even in urban areas downwind from fires.
- The legislation is likely to impact individuals living in areas with high wildfire risk in terms of property protection and safety measures.
- Firefighting personnel, including federal and volunteer fire departments, will be directly impacted by changes in policy and resources allocation.
- Native American tribes may be impacted as their lands are often located in wildfire-prone areas.
Reasoning
- Consider the geographic distribution of wildland fire risk areas such as California and the Pacific Northwest.
- Evaluate varied impacts of the policy across occupations: from direct influences on firefighters to indirect ones on health professionals due to air quality.
- Analyze the community response to policy changes, particularly how they aid native communities often residing in fire-prone areas.
Simulated Interviews
Forestry Technician (Bend, Oregon)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy will help us better coordinate with federal resources.
- Expecting more support for equipment and training.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Retired (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Concerned about air quality and property safety.
- Policy might improve community safety plans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Firefighter (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better equipment and training can help save lives.
- Need clearer federal guidelines.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Air Quality Scientist (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy could lead to reduced smoke emissions across regions.
- Need comprehensive air monitoring systems.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Homeowner (San Francisco, California)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hope the policy improves local fire defense infrastructure.
- Concerned about increasing insurance costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Nurse (Spokane, Washington)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better preparedness might reduce hospital admissions.
- Hopes for policies to address vulnerable populations like children and elderly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Volunteer Firefighter (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Age: 37 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Expect greater access to equipment through coordinated federal help.
- Concerned about ongoing training inadequacies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Teacher (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hope for better school air filtration systems as a result of policy.
- Safety measures need improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
City Planner (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Federal coordination is necessary for urban planning focused on fire breaks.
- Anticipate better emergency response strategies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Rancher (Reno, Nevada)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Expect policy to enhance firefighting capabilities in rural areas.
- Concerned about water allocation for firefighting vs farming.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $12000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $16000000)
Year 3: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $15000000)
Year 5: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $13000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The bill's upfront costs are primarily in initial years due to commissioning and research activities.
- Potential long-term financial benefits as a result of reduced frequency and intensity of wildfires.
- Coordination with multiple federal departments can create bureaucratic and regulatory delay.
- Estimates of savings and revenue impacts depend heavily on the efficacy and timely implementation of recommendations.