Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., will chair a field hearing in Cody next week that will focus on the need to employ small businesses to conduct forest health activities on federal public lands.

Enzi expects to hear witnesses share their thoughts on how small businesses can contribute to forest health by helping to prevent erosion, catastrophic forest fires and other harmful conditions.

"This work can help prevent disasters. It can also be cost-effective for the federal government and create local jobs. It is important for federal land management agencies to hear the concerns of small businesses so they can more effectively manage their programs and more effectively use small businesses to implement healthy forest activities," said Enzi.

The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship hearing is titled "The Role Small Business Should Play in Maintaining Forest Health." It is open to the public and is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. on Feb. 19 in the Taggart Room of the Holiday Inn.

The hearing will address the impacts access to forest health activities will have on small business and local communities, how authorities of the federal land management agencies actually contract with small businesses, and how public concerns will be handled by federal officials.

Scheduled to testify at the hearing are: U.S. Forest Service Region 2 Regional Director Rick Cables; Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Director Bob Bennett; Devil's Tower Forest Products Vice President and Manager Jim Neiman, Hulett; Cody Lumber Public Relations Officer Kathleen Jachowski, Cody; Wyoming Sawmills President and General Manager Ernie Schmidt, Sheridan; Bighorn Lumber Company Manager Gary Erickson, Laramie; and Mooncrest Ranch Manager Bob Model, Cody.

Those planning to attend, or who need more information, should contact Enzi's Cody office at (307) 527-9444 or by email at karen_mccreery@enzi.senate.gov.