[Vision2020] Locals Oppose Forest Service Land Trade

[Art Deco]

This is a horrible proposal, made even worse after the first plan was rejected.  Blixseth is but a conniving flimflamer and environment rape artist.


W.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: bevbafus at verizon.net 
  To: thansen at moscow.com 
  Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com 
  Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 2:28 PM
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Locals Oppose Forest Service Land Trade


  Visionaries -

  This proposed land trade includes many of the lands around Elk Creek Falls.

  Bev


  Jun 17, 2010 02:16:41 PM, thansen at moscow.com wrote:

    >Courtesy of the St. Maries Gazette.
    >
    >-------------------------------------------------------------------
    >
    >Locals oppose FS land trade
    >By Dan Hammes
    >
    >Critics charge taxpayers will be cheated.
    >
    >Supporters say the proposed land exchange is not only fair, it would help
    >the Forest Service better manage its lands.
    >
    >The one thing that seems certain is no opinions were changed at Monday’s
    >meeting to discuss the proposed land trade between the Forest Service and
    >Western Pacific Timber.
    >
    >The county commissioners listened as Forest Service representatives
    >explained the proposed trade that includes 3,737 acres in Benewah County.
    >Several local residents attended to voice their opposition.
    >
    >Under the trade, first proposed in 2006, the Forest Service would give up
    >28,000 acres in return for 40,000 acres of land in the Upper Lochsa River
    >basin near Lolo Pass. The trade would eliminate 'checkerboard ownership'
    >of land in the Lochsa and enable the Forest Service to better manage the
    >land.
    >
    >Ron Erickson of the Forest Service said if the trade is approved the
    >federal agency would work with various groups, including the Nez Perce
    >Tribe, Trout Unlimited, the Nature Conservancy, the Rocky Mountain Elk
    >Foundation and the Bonneville Power Administration to develop a
    >land-management plan.
    >
    >He did not estimate on what it would cost to implement the yet-unwritten
    >plan.
    >
    >“So when did the Forest Service get into the park business?” Commissioner
    >Jack Buell asked. “You’re talking about becoming park rangers.”
    >
    >He said the trade will impact local government. Idaho schools are
    >suffering for lack of funding and counties do not have enough money to
    >fund services, he said. When the Forest Service takes land out of
    >production it adversely impacts the local economy and tax base, he added.
    >
    >Mr. Erickson said the Forest Service has different priorities.
    >
    >“Timber is important but at the same time we have the other resources out
    >there including wildlife and fish,” he said.
    >
    >Mr. Buell said the St. Joe River, which offers a great fishery amidst a
    >thriving timber business, is proof you can have both.
    >
    >John Krebs said the Forest Service proposes to trade land with good public
    >access and managed for multiple use for land that would be managed for
    >wildlife.
    >
    >“You don’t intend to manage that land for public use. You’re screwing the
    >public,” he said.
    >
    >Mr. Erickson said while some roads in the Lochsa would be removed if the
    >Forest Service took ownership, there would be plenty of roads available
    >for public access.
    >
    >Mr. Krebs also criticized the method the federal government uses to
    >appraise land. He said taxpayers were giving up land whose value far
    >exceeds what they would get in return.
    >
    >Mr. Erickson defended the appraisal method used by the government.
    >
    >Al Halverson, who lives near Tensed, was not convinced.
    >
    >“You’re taking two 1953 DeSotos for a 2010 Cadillac and telling us it’s a
    >good trade,” he said.
    >
    >Kathy Judson of Tensed questioned why the Forest Service had to pay to
    >rehabilitate logged land. She said that should be paid by the companies
    >that made profit from the harvested timber.
    >
    >She added that local residents who use the land the Forest Service would
    >trade away to harvest game and collect firewood would suffer if the trade
    >is consummated.
    >
    >“Nobody wants this exchange.”
    >
    >Del Rust questioned how the Forest Service could pay to manage the land it
    >would take in trade.
    >
    >“How can a bankrupt government pay for restoration?”
    >
    >The Forest Service will release the Environmental Impact Statement to the
    >public in August and accept public comment on the proposal for 45 days.
    >For more information contact the Forest Service at 245-2531.
    >
    >-------------------------------------------------------------------
    >
    >Seeya round town, Moscow.
    >
    >Tom Hansen
    >Moscow, Idaho
    >
    >"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
    >and the Realist adjusts his sails."
    >
    >- Unknown
    >
    >
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    > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. 
    > http://www.fsr.net 
    > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
    >=======================================================
    >


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