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Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources asks for $50M for forestry and funding to stand up wildfire preparedness
Summary
Deputy Secretary Ben Shelton told the committee EMNRD seeks a $50 million special appropriation for forestry work tied to wildfire preparedness and structural hardening, $800,000 for an initial wildfire preparedness team (six FTEs), and additional program support to implement timber grading and park operations.
The Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) presented near‑flat base requests but urged targeted increases to respond to wildfire risk and infrastructure needs. Deputy Secretary Ben Shelton described a set of special appropriation asks and recurring needs aimed at expanding wildfire mitigation, forest products development, and staffing.
Shelton outlined a $50,000,000 special request to seed larger forestry projects associated with the wildfire preparedness legislation (Senate Bill 33) and said an $800,000 line item would fund six FTEs and contractual support for the neighborhood‑scale wildfire prepared program. He also described timber grading certification and training work tied to workforce development and an effort to build out a private-sector market for treated forest products.
Why it matters: EMNRD argued that treating more acreage, supporting forest products markets and expanding structural hardening are cost‑effective investments against increasingly severe wildfire seasons. The department also signaled urgency to scale state parks and dam/infrastructure projects, and referenced federal match opportunities for reclamation and mitigation funding.
Key details: Shelton said the department is executing federal funds and community awards and plans to stand up a statewide pilot for an AI‑assisted early wildfire detection camera network (45–55 stations) and to increase funding for state forestry related to SB33. On orphan well plugging, EMNRD estimates roughly $150,000 per plugged well (downhole work) and reported combined state and federal grants supporting plugging efforts.
Next steps: Committee members asked for more precise percentages of overhead for the $40,000,000 strategic water supply fund and for details about the number and value of brackish water RFP responses; EMNRD staff agreed to follow up with exact figures.
