The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service were scheduled to start leasing portions of the Talladega National Forest, including some that reach into Calhoun County, this Thursday. But last Friday, the leasing of the 43-thousand acres was postponed. The delay was requested by Congressman Mike Rogers when it turned out that there were no maps and very little information available to the public concerning the proposed sale. Among the tracts to be leased are areas near the Dugger Mountain Wilderness east of Jacksonville and one bordering a drinking water reservoir in Calhoun County. Environmental groups have threatened to sue, fearing the impact that drilling would have on endangered species, such as the red-cockaded woodpecker and the Indiana bat.
No comments:
Post a Comment