UPDATE AUGUST 2016 – COMMENTS AND OBJECTIONS TO TONGASS LAND AND RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN AMENDMENT DRAFT ROD
[INTRODUCTORY EXCERPT] As originally announced in May 2010, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack unilaterally amended the 2008 Amended TLMP by prohibiting timber harvest within Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs). The Secretary and his subordinates pledged to provide new jobs in renewable energy, habitat restoration, and recreation and tourism. The discussion below compares the commitments given during the entire 2008 Tongass Land Management Plan (hereinafter 2008 Amended TLMP) versus the commitments delivered in the draft ROD. As set out below we object to the failure of the entire Transition Plan to meet, and often not even mention, commitments previously made in during the 2008 Amended TLMP.
REVIEW FULL AUGUST 2016 LETTER…
First Things First Alaska Foundation requested that the Forest Service begin review the Tongass National Forest(TNF) Land Management Plan process addressing the need to correct regulations that should have exempted the TNF from the Roadless Rule. FTFAF also has requested the inclusion of a Renewable Energy Land Use Designation (LUD) that will allow the development of Hydro power in the Tongass National Forest. The links will be added below to provide you with those documents.