Colo. senator's bill seeks to treat damaged forests

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet has introduced a bill that would tackle insect and disease epidemics on National Forest lands nationwide.

The National Forest Insect and Disease Treatment Act would instruct the U.S. Forest Service to treat National Forests that are infected by beetle damage or other diseases in areas where the risk of hazard trees pose an imminent risk to public infrastructure, health or safety, according to Bennet’s office.

Colorado has more than 800,000 acres considered damaged by the beetle epidemic, according to Bennet’s office.