By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News

A bipartisan bill introduced by Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), aimed at reducing wildfire risk, has cleared a key Senate hurdle after unanimously passing the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The Strategic Grazing to Reduce the Risk of Wildfire Act aims to create targeted grazing strategies to manage wildfire fuel sources. It would accomplish this through collaboration among the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service, grazing allotment holders, States, tribes, and local fire departments to develop these mitigation strategies.

“Last year, Utah saw nearly 165,000 acres burned by wildfires – the most acreage burned since 2020,” said Sen. Curtis. “Pilot programs have shown that strategic grazing and use of public lands for fire mitigation can reduce hazardous fuels and slow the spread of wildfires. As we face this year’s fire season, I’m proud to see our bipartisan legislation to empower local officials and fire crews to develop targeted strategies like these advance in the Senate.”

According to the bill’s text, this prevention strategy would consider” the use of grazing on vacant grazing allotments during instances of drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters that disrupt grazing on allotments already permitted.” 

According to Curtis’ office, mitigation strategies that organizations could implement include:

• Targeting specific high-risk areas for grazing – especially those near populated areas.
• Using temporary grazing permits to reduce risks caused by annual grasses or invasive grasses like cheatgrass that burn easily and help fires spread more quickly.
• Recommending the use of strategic grazing when providing technical assistance to communities and Tribes undertaking their own wildfire risk management projects.
• Reimbursing states, local governments, Tribes, and local firefighting agencies who use strategic grazing on federal lands in coordination with federal land management agencies.

“Nevada’s use of strategic grazing to reduce the risk of devastating wildfires has been a proven success,” said Sen. Cortez Masto of the legislation. “Now, we have the opportunity to extend this valuable tool throughout the West. I am glad to see my legislation pass through committee with bipartisan support, and I urge Senate leadership to immediately bring it to the floor for a vote.”

Following its passage in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the bill now moves to the Senate floor for a vote.