The Public Land Sellers Try Again:

[hillsidedigger]

After the uproar about one year ago about the possible liquidation of several hundred thousand acres of USFS and BLM lands

apparently they are trying again this year at least I've heard a coup[le of rumors the last couple of days. I do not have a link yet, but I am looking for one.

The headlines of the local paper here today says

"300 acres of Forest Service Land to be Sold in McDowell County".

[hillsidedigger]

OK, its 250 acres, here's a link in which our astute County Manager states the proposed sale does not adjoin the national forest (it is the national forest, dummy!).

http://www.mcdowellnews.com/servlet/...le&c=MGArticle

[hillsidedigger]

Another try at the link, I still haven't figured out how to edit here:

http://www.mcdowellnews.com/servlet/...le&c=MGArticle

[hillsidedigger]

Link still doesn't work, so here's part of the article:

More than 250 acres of national forest land in McDowell County would be for sale under a plan proposed by President Bush.
It’s the second time the president has proposed selling forest land to help pay for rural schools. Last year’s proposal was rejected by Congress.
The controversial proposal is part of the 2008 fiscal budget the president presented. The plan calls for selling less forest land, both in North Carolina and area counties, than did last year’s proposal.
In the original plan, 568 acres of national forest land in McDowell would have been up for sale. Under this year’s proposal, 252.8 acres would be sold. Some of the land is located in North Cove while other parcels are near Lake Tahoma and Tom’s Creek.
County Manager Chuck Abernathy said he understands that the parcels to be sold are not located next to the Pisgah National Forest or the Blue Ridge Parkway.


Note: The tract the USFS desires to sell in North Cove adjoins a 2,000 acre tract just acquired by the state of North Carolina last year yet the USFS calls the tract an isolated parcel.

[hillsidedigger]

http://www.wilderness.org/NewsRoom/Release/20070205.cfm

[Rain Man]

"300 acres of Forest Service Land to be Sold in McDowell County".

And where might McDowell County be?

RainMan

.

[bigmac_in]

And this is why private land trusts are a good idea. You can't count on the government to "protect" anything. Eventually they will sell out. I would encourage everyone that is concerned about losing natural lands to join and support their local land trust. We have a great one here in southern indiana - the sycamore land trust. www.sycamorelandtrust.org

[hillsidedigger]

I agree that private land trusts are just fine

but short of an invasion and conquest by the Chinese or Mexicans, I cannot imagine America's public lands being sold-out, in fact should grow to a higher percentage in the coming decades. most everything else will apparently get trashed.

[bigmac_in]

I agree that private land trusts are just fine

but short of an invasion and conquest by the Chinese or Mexicans, I cannot imagine America's public lands being sold-out, in fact should grow to a higher percentage in the coming decades. most everything else will apparently get trashed.

Don't fool yourself - if the right deal came around at the right time, no public land would be sacred. If they found an oil reserve under yellowstone, it would be gone NOW.

As the population continues to grow, the pressure will become greater to use public lands for purposes other than protection and recreation. It may not happen on a large scale in your lifetime or my lifetime, but I honestly believe it will be a problem in my children's lifetime.

[tiamalle]

And where might McDowell County be?

RainMan

.

Rain Man,McDowell County is in Marion,NC next county east of Asheville,NC.Speaking of land for sale.There is 38 acres of private land for sale in Burningtown section of Franklin 3 1/2 miles from the AT.http://www.appalachiantrailservices....isplay.php?f=2

[jimh]

Don't fool yourself - if the right deal came around at the right time, no public land would be sacred. If they found an oil reserve under yellowstone, it would be gone NOW.

Just like Anwr...?