$250,000 for Blue Hill Peninsula Community Wildfire Protection Plan Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $250,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the development of the Blue Hill Peninsula Community Wildfire Protection Plan in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“Fires can pose a significant threat to rural communities, where many fire departments are a blend of volunteer and professional fire services,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would help to mitigate the risk of wildfires in Hancock County while helping to ensure rural communities in the region have the tools and resources needed to respond. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
“All nine towns on the Blue Hill Peninsula will benefit from coordinated planning and pilot projects to reduce the risk of wildfire in the face of high heat, drought, strong wind, unpredictable water supply, and trees weakened by insect infestation. Increased development in our wooded areas underscores the value of investing in public safety and supporting our towns’ interlocal mutual assistance agreements,” said Co-Coordinator of Blue Hill Peninsula Tomorrow Allen Kratz.
This funding would enable nine towns on the Blue Hill Peninsula to develop a Community Wildfire Protection Plan to identify wildfire hazards and recommend strategies to reduce wildfire risk. The nine towns include Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Deer Isle, Penobscot, Sedgwick, Stonington, and Surry.
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY24 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bill to be considered by the full Senate. Committee consideration of legislation is a key part of regular order, which helps our government function efficiently and deliver results for the people of Maine and America.
In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $500 million for hundreds of Maine projects for FY2022 and FY2023. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.
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