by Caroline Pufalt
Call for Citizen Input
Most of us visit the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri and enjoy its benefits, such as wooded hiking trails, Ozark streams and wildlife, and sometimes curse its drawbacks, such as clear-cuts and illegal off-road vehicle traffic. Few of us contemplate the series of decisions that led to the conditions we see in the forest. But there is a process behind the management of our National Forests and there is a role for citizens to speak up for the good management of our public lands. The Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) is in the process of preparing an overall plan for the forest, which will be the guiding document for the next 10–15 years. It is important that you participate in that process. Just as your vote was important in the last election, your input is vital to this process.
The Forest Plan will outline plans for uses for different areas of the forest, including logging, recreation areas (motorized and non-motorized), wildlife management and other issues. The Forest Service will prepare a draft document for comment, which will include alternatives. They want to hear what you think about the alternatives and/or what you think about the specifics of any part of the plan. If you have any area of the MTNF that you are especially concerned about you should also comment to tell the agency about your concern. The draft forest plan is called a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). You can visit the MTNF web site and view the plan at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/marktwain. The DEIS is expected to be available in January 2005.The Ozark Chapter will also post suggestions on how to understand the DEIS and guides on commenting. That information should be on the chapter’s web site later in February 2005. The Mark Twain National Forest will also hold five open houses regarding the forest plan. Each open house is an opportunity to visit with agency personnel and review maps, ask questions and give comments regarding forest management.
The planned open houses will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the following locations and
dates:
St Louis (February 8)
Powder Valley Nature Center
11715 Cragwold Rd
Salem MO (February 15)
Old City Hall Bldg
202 N Washington
West Plains MO (February 22)
West Plains Civic Center
110 St Louis
Poplar Bluff MO (March 15)
Black River Coliseum
301 S 5th St
Springfield MO (March 22)
The Library Center
4653 S Campbell