IV

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 326

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the Federal Government’s

responsibility for starting a destructive fire near Los Alamos, New Mexico.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 15, 2000

Mrs. WILSON (for herself and Mr. UDALL of New Mexico) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on

Resources

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the Federal

Government’s responsibility for starting a destructive fire

near Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Whereas on May 4, 2000, the National Park Service initiated

a prescription burn on Federal land during the

southwest’s peak fire season;

Whereas on May 5, 2000, the prescription burn exceeded the

containment capabilities of the National Park Service,

was reclassified as a wildland burn, and spread to nonFederal land, quickly becoming characterized as a

firestorm;

Whereas by May 7, 2000, the fire had grown in size and

caused evacuations in and around Los Alamos, New Mexico, including the Los Alamos National Laboratory, one
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of America’s leading national research laboratories and

birthplace of the atomic bomb;

Whereas on May 12, 2000, the President issued a major disaster declaration for the Counties of Bernalillo, Cibola,

Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San

Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos, and Torrance;

Whereas the fire resulted in the loss of Federal, State, local,

tribal, and private property;

Whereas the loss to private citizens of personal property and

memories cannot be accounted for in monetary terms nor

repaid with financial assistance; and

Whereas a full congressional investigation will assist the Federal Government to determine the cause of this disaster

and its full cost to the Federal Government and the people of New Mexico: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That—

3 (1) it is the sense of the Congress that the Fed4 eral Government should—

5 (A) take responsibility for the fire inten6 tionally set by the National Park Service at the

7 Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico, on

8 May 4, 2000, which burned out of control near

9 Los Alamos, New Mexico;

10 (B) take all necessary steps to mitigate the

11 threats from the fire to the public health and

12 well-being of the residents of New Mexico; and
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1 (C) take all necessary steps to compensate

2 the people of New Mexico for the losses in3 curred as a result of National Park Service ac4 tions; and

5 (2) the Congress commends—

6 (A) the people of New Mexico for opening

7 their homes and their hearts to the New Mexi8 can communities affected by this fire;

9 (B) the New Mexico firefighting teams for

10 their efforts and courage in battling the fire;

11 (C) the New Mexico National Guard and

12 the State of New Mexico for their efforts in

13 mitigating the fire and assisting those affected

14 by it;

15 (D) the American Red Cross and numer16 ous other charitable organizations and volun17 teers for the extensive assistance provided to

18 the fire victims;

19 (E) the Western States that have assisted

20 New Mexico by sending people and equipment

21 to help fight the fire;

22 (F) the businesses which have served as

23 food and clothing collection points;
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1 (G) all organizations and individuals that

2 have collected and disseminated information to

3 those affected by the fire;

4 (H) Sandia National Laboratories for ex5 tending assistance to fire victims;

6 (I) the Department of Energy for pro7 viding analysis and monitoring public health

8 concerns; and

9 (J) the people of the United States for

10 opening their hearts to assist with the plight of

11 New Mexicans affected by the fire and for send12 ing additional firefighting teams to help battle

13 the fire.

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