The day before Thanksgiving President Obama’s administration unveiled plans to designate 9.6 million acres of critical habitat for the northern spotted owl. It was a bold and unexpected move nearly doubling the last designation in 2008. The plan will be undertaken by The US Fish& Wildlife Service, which will curtail logging in California, Oregon and Washington.
In another battle for public lands, The Bureau of Land Management is currently facing a surmounting force of lawsuits, which will also contribute to the loss of jobs in the forest industry. Another contingency of angry Environmentalist have filed suit in US District Court to stop up to 25 of The Bureau’s timber sales and over 90 million board feet of timber harvest. Rex Storm of the Associated Oregon Loggers explained, “For every million board feet of timber harvested, 38 jobs per year are generated in Oregon’s economy. If the lawsuits are not overturned, some 1,100 Oregonians would be threatened with under-employment during a three-year
period.”
The news was not good for the holiday season when so many families are struggling to get by, which contributes to the lingering of public pessimism. However, there is plenty of opportunity to stop the Federal government
from stealing these lands. It will not take a lot of money or time and there is no need to travel far, because the
threat to our property and prosperity can be found right here, on our beaches, in our forests and in the comfort of our own homes.
The US Forest Service is involved with another land grab in the state of Oregon and part of that territory will be taken directly from Coos County---all under the direction of the Department of Interior. This time they have their sights set on the Oregon dunes and the off-highway vehicle trail riding industry. The USFS is endangering the public’s access to over 84 miles of dunes by threatening to close 62% of all the trails. The plans of the heist can be found on their website at www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=34220 . They will be taking public comment until December 9th, 2012, so time is of the essence.
Here is What Your Comment Needs to Include:
1. Name
2. Address and phone number
3. Document Title: Oregon Dunes NRA Management Area 10 C Designated Routes Project
4. Your comments must be specific about the trails: How you use them. How long you have been using them.
Why are certain trails more important? Are there any trails you use seasonally? Be as specific
about the trails as possible. How will you miss the trails if closed?
5. State that you DO NOT agree with any of the alternatives in the DEIS and the US Forest Service must
start from scratch and develop new alternatives.
6. State any related clubs, organizations, or groups you belong to.
7. And, as always, be respectful and polite!
Remember, public comments are due by 12/9/2012 and should be mailed to: Forest Supervisor Jerry Ingersoll c/o Angie Morris, Recreation Planner, 855 Hwy 101, Reedsport, OR 97467.
E-mail comments to: [email protected].
And for more information go to www.savetheridersdunes.com or www.CoosCountyWatchdog.com.
Sincerely, Rob Taylor
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