Severe Wildland Fires: Leadership and Accountability Needed to Reduce Risks to Communities and Resources: GAO-02-259 (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781289080624)

Dangerous accumulations of brush, small trees, and other vegetation on federal lands, particularly in the western United States, have helped fuel devastating wildfires in recent years. Although a single focal point is critical for directing firefighting efforts by federal, state, and local governments, GAO found a lack of clearly defined leadership at the federal level. Authority and responsibility remain fragmented among the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the states. Implementation of a performance accountability network also remains fragmented. As a result, GAO could not determine if the $796 million earmarked for hazardous fuels reduction in 2001 and 2002 has been targeted to communities and areas at highest risk. The five federal land management agencies--the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Forest Service--have yet to begin the research needed to identify and prioritize vulnerable communities near high-risk federal lands. Moreover, the agencies are not collecting the data needed to determine if changes are needed to expedite the project-planning process. They also are not collecting data needed to measure the effectiveness of efforts to dispose of the large amount of brush and other vegetation on federal lands.

Author: U. S. Government Accountability Office (
ISBN-10: 1289080623
ISBN-13: 9781289080624
Publisher: Bibliogov
Language: English
Published: 06/27/2013
Pages: 50
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.24lbs
Size: 9.69h x 7.44w x 0.10d