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Sunday, February 26, 2006

Environment - Selling off parts of national forest in Indidna and Kentucky

The federal plan to sell off parts of the national forest, last written about in the ILB on Friday, is the subject of a story by James Bruggers in the Louisville Courier Journal today. Some quotes:

A Bush administration proposal to sell up to 309,000 acres of national forest land, including more than 4,500 acres in Kentucky, is a "misguided and short-sighted" example of "irresponsible fiscal policy," U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler says.

It's "frightening," he said, that "our very own Daniel Boone National Forest is at risk of having land parcels sold to the highest bidder for private development."
* * *

A Courier-Journal survey of Kentucky and Indiana congressional leaders shows Chandler is joined in his concern by two Republicans, while the others who responded to the newspaper's queries said they are reserving judgment until more information is available.

As outlined Feb. 10 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Bush plan to sell 2,900 parcels nationwide -- 47 in Kentucky -- would raise $800 million over five years so the government can continue its payments for schools and roads in counties with forest holdings for five more years.

While federal officials initially said no Hoosier National Forest land in Indiana would be sold, they subsequently identified 24 parcels totaling 868 acres tentatively scheduled for the auction block. * * *

Kentucky's two Republican senators, Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning, and Rep. Ron Lewis, R-2nd District, said through their spokesmen that it's too soon to comment, as did the office of Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Indiana. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers, whose 5th District in Kentucky includes most of the Boone, said: "We are at the very beginning of the budget process and it is clear that this issue will require further discussion."

Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Indiana, and Rep. Mike Sodrel, R-9th District in Indiana, did not respond to requests for their views.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on February 26, 2006 10:47 AM
Posted to Environment