Lake Tahoe Wildfire Prevention Efforts Debated

Congressional action to ease wildfire danger by increasing the thinning of forests also is behind efforts to assure that environmental regulations at Lake Tahoe don´t increase fire danger there.

Nevada Congressman Jim Gibbons and fellow members of the House Resources Committee will review concerns raised by Washoe County Commissioner Jim Galloway and fellow governors of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

In the wake of last month´s fires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed more than 20 people in Southern California, efforts are accelerating to ensure fire prevention efforts at Lake Tahoe are not hamstrung by environmental regulations.

The issue of fire danger and regulations that might have to be changed will be discussed next month by members of a Nevada legislative committee that oversees the TRPA. Officials say a major fire at Tahoe could undo years of costly efforts to restore the lake and halt its degradation.