SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS AND PUBLIC LANDS
Rafter J Bar Ranch, 12325 Rafter J Road, Hill City, South Dakota
Sunday, July 10, 2011
12:30 p.m. Central Time

• Press Release - Field Hearing Examines Need for Long Term Solution to Fight Pine Beetle Epidemic, Prevent Wildfires (7/11/2011)
• Committee Action - Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands to Hold South Dakota Field Hearing on Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic (6/30/2011)

OVERSIGHT FIELD HEARING ON:

• "Impact of the Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic in the Black Hills"

Watch the Archived Hearing Webcast:

OPENING STATEMENTS:

The Honorable Rob Bishop
Chairman

The Honorable Kristi Noem
Subcommittee Member

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

Craig Bobzien
Supervisor
Black Hill National Forest
U.S. Forest Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Ray Sowers
State Forester
South Dakota Department of Agriculture

Nort Johnson
State Forester
South Dakota Department of Agriculture
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Todd George
Owner
Rafter J Bar Ranch Campground
(Truth in Testimony Form)

James Scherrer
Business Director
Black Hills Orthopedic & Spine Center
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Jim Neiman
Vice President/CEO
Neiman Enterprises, Inc.
(Truth in Testimony Form)

BACKGROUND:

Mountain Pine Beetles have spread throughout the West and reached epidemic levels in America’s forests. These beetles specifically infect and kill trees – leaving behind large areas of dead trees that increases the risk of forest fires around homes, businesses and power lines. Since 1997, the Mountain Pine Beetles have infected nearly 4 million acres of national forest across the Black Hills, Colorado and Wyoming.