Senate vote public lands sale

[Pony Soldier]

This is a little off the side but... sale of public land would be a loss. Transfer of ownership to the state would also be a loss since the purpose of the state is to generate money hence we would all have to pay to use.
However because of the politization of the forest service and the abandonment of silviculture, maybe an option to explore is to retain ownership but contract the state for management. Maybe we could get back to something resembling long term sane management.

At that same time maybe consider having the blm manage all minerals on federal lands. I've trained personal from all federal agencies and found more consistant professionalism from blm/ department of interior personel. One of the biggest nightmares has been when a mineral property bridged two forest service districts and warfare brokeout over personal management policies between the rangers.

 

[Customweld]

This is a little off the side but... sale of public land would be a loss. Transfer of ownership to the state would also be a loss since the purpose of the state is to generate money hence we would all have to pay to use.
However because of the politization of the forest service and the abandonment of silviculture, maybe an option to explore is to retain ownership but contract the state for management. Maybe we could get back to something resembling long term sane management.

I agree with that. A collaboration between local counties and municipalities, state and FS could prove to be beneficial. It is interesting to see the management philosophies between different NF districts. Take the Payette and Boise NF and compare it to the Nez Perce NF. The Nez Perce's road systems are in way better shape, and are actually maintained. The Payette and Boise road systems are in shambles. The Payette NF had a district ranger in the '80's that said he'd rather see every tree burnt than see one stick leave on a log truck.

 

[7mm-08]

It is clear from the communications I received back from the Idaho senators and representatives I contacted regarding this issue that they all endorse greater local control and I can't necessarily disagree with that position. Folks who sit in headquarters positions in Disneyland East (my terminology for Washington, D.C.) don't really have a great sense of what is wanted or needed in our western States. Folks with lots bigger brains than mine could certainly conceptualize a mechanism to make that happen within those agencies without the sale of federal public lands or turning them over to individual states.