Washington, May 2 -  

By an overwhelming bipartisan margin, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 2720, the “Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act;” legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce which establishes an extensive study regarding the control of salt cedar and Russian olive trees. These two invasive species have detrimentally impacted the water supply while increasing the risk of fire in the American West.

“Today, Democrats and Republicans alike embraced a cause that is critical to the environmental and economic future of New Mexico and the entire American west,” Rep. Pearce said. “Salt cedar and Russian olive trees have drastically affected our precious water supply while crowding out indigenous plants and increasing the danger of wildfires – a threat with which we have become all too familiar during the last four months.

“I look forward to final action by the United States Senate on this essential legislation.”

United States Senator Pete Domenici also hailed House passage of H.R. 2720. “I’m pleased that the House has taken action to approve this legislation, which will give our federal land managers the resources they need to combat salt cedar and other nonnative species,” Senator Domenici said. “I appreciate Congressman Pearce’s work to move this bill through the House, and I will seek to gain quick passage here in the Senate,” Domenici said. “These nonnative species sap water supplies and we need to do more to control their proliferation in arid states like New Mexico.”

H.R. 2720 mandates at least five demonstration projects to be conducted through partnerships, which may involve public and private entities at the federal, state, and local levels. These demonstration projects will study chemical, mechanical, and biological ways of eliminating salt cedar and Russian olive trees while evaluating the consequences of such removal to surrounding ecosystems.

H.R. 2720 also requires the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to cooperate on a study that ascertains the “the acreage of and severity of infestation by salt cedar and Russian olive trees in the western United States;” the state of current science regarding Salt Cedar and Russian olive control; “the feasibility of reducing water consumption by salt cedar and Russian olive trees;” “the methods and challenges associated with the revegetation or restoration of infested land;” and the approximate “costs of destruction, … related biomass removal, and revegetation or restoration and maintenance of the infested land.”

H.R. 2720 authorizes $20 million in appropriations for fiscal year 2006 and $60 million over the four subsequent fiscal years.

###