It continues to be a good week for Nevada County’s congressman. The House has passed another one of his bills. Doug LaMalfa says this measure would speed up the approval process for removal of hazardous trees or other vegetation overgrowth within, or adjacent to, power lines on federal lands…

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LaMalfa says that would reduce the risk of wildfires and power failures. He says according to the Forest Service about 350 fires were caused in California by trees tangled with power lines, in 2012 and 2013…

click to listen to Congressman LaMalfa

LaMalfa says this is a lose-lose situation for forest health, air quality, habitat, and energy reliability, while also leading to higher energy costs for consumers. In September of last year, Governor Brown signed a bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Brian Dahle, that was also designed to reduce regulations and green tape on landowners working to thin the timber on their properties, to reduce the fire danger.