A mountain pine beetle is seen on the tip of forester Cal Wettstein's knife. He was checking trees near Vail.
/ AP Photo
DENVER (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Mark Udall says the insect infestation killing millions of pine trees in the West is one of the region's "biggest natural disasters."
The Colorado Democrat said Monday he has introduced a bill to give forest managers more ways to respond.
The bill, co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, would allow the U.S. Forest Service to identify high-priority areas and expedite analysis of proposed treatments.
More than 2.5 million acres of pine trees in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming have been killed by tiny beetles that burrow under the bark.
Forest managers say the outbreak poses wildfire and public safety risks.
A national management team will help the Forest Service coordinate responses to the outbreak.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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