H.R.1820 Addresses Environmental Destruction impacting Federal Lands due to Illegal Marijuana Grows

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BILL - H.R. 1820 - Federal Lands Amplified Security for the Homeland Act - FLASH Act

The Federal Lands Amplified Security for the Homeland Act (FLASH) addresses the public safety issues and environmental destruction currently impacting Federal lands along the southern border, enhance border security through the construction of navigable roads on Federal lands along the southern border, provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection access to Federal lands to improve the safety and effectiveness of enforcement activities, allow States to place temporary barriers on Federal land to secure the southern border, reduce the massive trash accumulations and environmental degradation along the southern border, reduce the cultivation of illegal cannabis on Federal lands, mitigate wildland fires caused by illegal immigration, and prohibit migrant housing on Federal lands. For full text visit congress.gov.




Major Parts


TITLE I—SECURING FEDERAL BORDER LANDS


TITLE II—ENDING ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION ON PUBLIC LANDS

Subtitle A—Trash Reduction and Suppressing Harm from Environmental Degradation at the Border
Subtitle B—Targeting and Offsetting Existing Illegal Contaminants
Subtitle C—Ending Major Border Land Environmental Ruin from Wildfires

TITLE III—PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES FROM FAILURE TO SECURE THE BORDER

Illegal Grows Impact

Cannabis cultivation has the potential to affect fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. Inspections have led to violations for water diversions and storage, grading, chemical use, wildlife threats, timber conversion, and public safety. Between 2013 and early 2018, more than 700 inspections resulted in 399 tons of trash removed from public and private lands including: 2.4 million feet of irrigation pipe, 50 tons of fertilizer, and 465 gallons of chemicals (many illegal in the US). In addition, the removal of 709 dams and water diversions resulted in restoration of 800 million gallons of water back into local watersheds.




Environmental Impact Areas

  • Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
  • Water Diversion
  • Dams and Stream Crossings
  • Pesticides and Fertilizers
  • Light Pollution
  • Noise Pollution

Public Safety Impact Areas

  • Human Trafficking (to process the cannabis)
  • Danger to Persons who might Discover the Illegal Grow
  • Danger to Law Enforcement
  • Tied to other Illegal Activities (Antisocial)

Cosponsors

Location: Washington, DC, USA