Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 15, 2011

CONTACT: Hannah Loy 202-225-2315

Congressman Paul Gosar’s Statement Regarding the Official Release of the Four Forest Restoration Initiative Request for Proposals

Today, Congressman Gosar released the following statement after the United States Forest Service officially released the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4-FRI):

"The tragic wildfire that occurred last year in Schultz Pass, and the Wallow fire occurring right now in the eastern part of the state underscore how critical the Four Forest Restoration Initiative is to our communities,” said Congressman Gosar, Representative of Arizona's First District, which encompasses much of Coconino, Apache-Sitgreaves, Tonto and Kaibab National Forests.  "Building collaborative partnerships maximizes our limited resources to use our forest resources in a sound environmental and economic manner.  When the federal government partners with local government, stakeholder groups, and private industry, together we will create much needed jobs and a safer environment for our citizens. 

“Today's release of the RFP for contract is just the first step; there is much more work to do,” Gosar continued.  “It is going to take a strong public-private collaboration in the short- and long-term to ensure that this project is successful.  I commend the efforts of all those who have worked together for the benefit of District 1's people and environment.  I remain committed to working with them to create jobs and a safer environment in District 1 efficiently and without delay."

***The U.S. Forest Service’s Press Release Announcing the RFP is below***

Forest Service Releases Request for Proposals Related To Four Forest Restoration Initiative

FLAGSTAFF, AZ. – The Southwestern Region of the Forest Service issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on June 15, 2011, related to the landscape-scale forest restoration effort known as the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI). The RFP and all of its related documents are available at the following website:
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=729b0e4248c2bc3f613962352bdbe650&tab=core&_cview=1.

The RFP seeks industry partners to work with the Forest Service in accomplishing a large, landscape-scale, multi-year forest restoration project in northern and central Arizona. The objective of the project is to treat 300,000 acres of ponderosa pine forest by thinning and harvesting mainly small-diameter trees over a 10-year contract period. This will be the largest restoration contract ever awarded by the Forest Service.

The areas proposed for treatment as part of the contract are scattered across four national forests – Tonto, Kaibab, Coconino and Apache-Sitgreaves.

“The RFP is the first step in a long restoration process in the ponderosa pine forests of northern Arizona,” said Dick Fleishman, 4FRI assistant team leader. “The resulting contract will be one mechanism to begin to improve forest health and species diversity, decrease the threat of stand-replacing wildfire, and provide for manufacturing and related jobs across northern Arizona.”
The overall goal of 4FRI is to create landscape-scale restoration approaches that will provide for fuels reduction, forest health, and wildlife and plant diversity, at no cost to the government. A key objective is doing this while creating sustainable ecosystems and industries in the long term. Appropriately-scaled businesses will likely play a key role in the effort by harvesting, processing and selling wood products. The restoration-based work opportunities are expected to create good jobs across northern Arizona. Additional information on 4FRI is available at www.fs.usda.gov/4fri.

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