III

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 326

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MAY 17, 2000

Received and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural 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 non-
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Federal 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

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;
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1 (B) take all necessary steps to mitigate the

2 threats from the fire to the public health and

3 well-being of the residents of New Mexico; and

4 (C) take all necessary steps to compensate

5 the people of New Mexico for the losses in6 curred as a result of National Park Service ac7 tions; and

8 (2) the Congress commends—

9 (A) the people of New Mexico for opening

10 their homes and their hearts to the New Mexi11 can communities affected by this fire;

12 (B) the New Mexico firefighting teams for

13 their efforts and courage in battling the fire;

14 (C) the New Mexico National Guard and

15 the State of New Mexico for their efforts in

16 mitigating the fire and assisting those affected

17 by it;

18 (D) the American Red Cross and numer19 ous other charitable organizations and volun20 teers for the extensive assistance provided to

21 the fire victims;

22 (E) the Western States that have assisted

23 New Mexico by sending people and equipment

24 to help fight the fire;
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1 (F) the businesses which have served as

2 food and clothing collection points;

3 (G) all organizations and individuals that

4 have collected and disseminated information to

5 those affected by the fire;

6 (H) Sandia National Laboratories for ex7 tending assistance to fire victims;

8 (I) the Department of Energy for pro9 viding analysis and monitoring public health

10 concerns; and

11 (J) the people of the United States for

12 opening their hearts to assist with the plight of

13 New Mexicans affected by the fire and for send14 ing additional firefighting teams to help battle

15 the fire.

Passed the House of Representatives May 16, 2000.

Attest: JEFF TRANDAHL,

Clerk.