Tribal Wildfire Program Support: Westerman Questions Officials on ITARA and Land Management

ITARA's Role in Wildfire Preparedness

• 💡 ITARA is highlighted as a crucial tool for enabling tribes to respond more effectively and quickly to wildfire threats.
• 🎯 It streamlines federal decision-making processes, reducing the need for over a dozen federal approvals for forest management activities on tribal trust land.
• 🔑 By allowing local decision-making, ITARA ensures that land management is based on familiarity with the specific terrain and conditions.

Impact of ITARA on Fire Risk Reduction

• 🌲 Following the Post 97 fire, which cost the tribe millions and took nearly a year to rehabilitate, a subsequent fire in the same area was contained to a few hundred acres with minimal damage due to pre-fire treatments under ITARA.
• 📈 This demonstrates ITARA's effectiveness in mitigating wildfire risk and preventing the expansion of burn areas.

BLM Land Management vs. Tribal Trust Land

• 🏞️ Regarding isolated BLM parcels adjacent to Pchanga tribal lands, officials noted that the BLM does its best with available resources.
• ⛰️ However, the Pchanga tribe is eager to manage these lands, believing their cultural resources, environmental, and fire departments can conduct surveys and implement fire prevention measures more effectively.
• ✅ Over the years, tribal management of trust lands has led to improved landscape conditions, successful habitat surveys, and the identification of cultural resources, allowing for better direction of fire departments during incidents.

Tribal Resource Management Capabilities

• 📊 The Quapaw Services Authority, funded by the EPA and Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, has developed significant capabilities over two decades, particularly in remediating the Tar Creek Superfund site.
• 🛠️ The tribe's natural resource management, realty, land services, and environmental departments are noted for their excellent work.