{cross-posted from Scrutiny Hooligans
The Bush administration, through the offices of the United States Forest Service, is making a humble proposition: Sell over 300,000 acres of National Forest to shore up underfunded rural schools.
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 was set up to allow proceeds from timber sales off public lands to supplement rural education funding. The problem with logging the forest in order to pay for education, of course, is that the tress eventually all get chopped down while the children keep coming year after year. So, the Bush administration, in it's far-thinking wisdom now proposes to do away with the logging idea and just sell the land outright.
Rural schoolkids deserve a real commitment to education funding in this country, not stopgap measures that injure economies, environment, and quality of life for all Americans who enjoy and appreciate the National Forests.
The official proposal was released yesterday and commenced a 30-day public comment period.
Proposal Notice in the Federal Register (second column)
"GeoCommunicator": USFS Land and Mineral Use Viewer to locate parcels proposed for selloff. The GeoCommunicator isn't working. Convenient, eh?
List of Lands Potentially Eligible for Sale by State and National Forest
In reading the press release at the USDA website, we noticed the following misleading bits of disinformation that you may be hearing from the proponents of cutting down forests instead of properly funding education for poor, rural kids:
1. Bush's plan is a commitment to rural schools
Bush's plan is a kick in the nuts to rural schools, selling their inheritance rather than making education a real priority.
2. The proposed land selloff is only .2% of all National Forest Land.
Still coming in at over 300,000 acres. This is an enormous amount of land.
3. All of the parcels are considered isolated or inefficient to manage due to their location or other characteristics.
Tell that to Jan Howard, who lives in Hot Springs, North Carolina, and whose home is bordering 160 acres of selloff land. It's viable, arable, desirable land they're selling. Look for the swaths in your area and see for yourself.
4. The Forest Service will include in its proposal the opportunity for local and state government agencies and nonprofit land trust organizations the first right to buy these parcels at market value.
What local and state governments have the budget strength to purchase land in this real estate climate? What non-profit agencies can afford to do the same? The vast majority of this land will end up in the hands of private developers.
So now it's time to act, Hooligans. Without your voice, this deal will go through without a hitch. Having spent the last three days on Capitol Hill, let me tell you that nothing gets congressional staffers jumping like constituent pressure. Call, write, fax, or email your representative today to ask them to oppose this shortsighted and harmful plan.
You can also make comments through the US Forest Service.
Click Here to find the contact information for your representatives.
US Forest Service public comment email address: SRS_Land_Sales@fs.fed.us
US Forest Service public comment fax number: (202) 205-1604
US Forest Service physical mail address: USDA Forest Service, SRS Comments, Lands 4S, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mailstop 1124, Washington DC, 20250-0003
If you have any specific questions about the Forest Selloff you can contact Cynthia R. Swanson, Assistant Director of Lands, at (202) 205-0099. Be nice.
Scrutiny Hooligans are teaming up with oodles of bloggers nationwide to put the kibosh on this absurd plan. We're asking you to take five minutes out of your day to participate in your democracy. Call your Representative's office, fire off an email to the Forest Service, fax your Senator's office, write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
The only way this plan can be stopped is through public pressure and high visibility. We'll do our part, please do yours.
More soon!