Protect Our
Woods
Working to preserve our rural heritage and quality of life in
southern Indiana since 1985
Working to preserve our rural heritage and quality of life in
southern Indiana since 1985
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Protect Our
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Working to preserve our rural heritage and quality of life in southern Indiana since 1985 |
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ALERT February 25, 2006: IEPA, SB 354, & IDNR ExemptionThis week or next, the Natural Resources Study Committee of the Indiana House of Representatives will be hearing a bill called SB 354.On the surface, this bill would strengthen the Indiana Classified Forest System. However, the Department of Natural Resources has secretly inserted language in this bill, which would make the Department exempt from the Indiana Environmental Policy Act (IEPA) (Ind. Code §§13-1-10-1 et seq.). IEPA allows citizens to provide input into the management of our publicly-owned state forests. Please call your representative and ask them to vote no on SB 354 unless the exemption from IEPA is taken out. Below is a sample letter to write or to use in your conversation. Here are the members of the Indiana House of Representatives Natural Resources Study Committee: Rep. Bob Hoffman, Chair Rep. John Ulmer, Vice Chair Rep. Matt Bell Rep. Tim Brown Rep. Bill Friend Rep. Eric Gutwein Rep. Don Lehe Rep. Bob Bischoff Rep. Carlene Bottorff Rep. Terry Goodin Rep. Dale Grubb Rep. Paul Robertson Phone and Mail: Indiana House of Representatives 200 W. Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204-2786 (317) 232-9600 (800) 382-9842 Dear Representative ___________: I am writing to you as a concerned citizen of your district. It has come to my attention that the DNR has secretly inserted two provisions into SB 354 that go against public opinion, and will have damaging effects on our economy, environment, and democractic process. I am referring to the two lines in SB 354 that would make the DNR exempt from 1). environmental impact statements, and 2) complying with the Indiana Environmental Policy Act (IEPA). These two actions would make the public unable to participate in and have input into the management of our public forests. The law more commonly referred to as IEPA, rather than being some "pesky" environmental laws written by "tree huggers," is in fact over 30 years old and was written by the very same man that President Nixon authorized to write the Federal National Environmental Policy Act. This law holds public agencies accountable for their actions. Such actions include logging on steep slopes near public reservoirs, logging to endanger forest wildlife, and destroying beautiful hiking trails that give Hoosiers spiritual enrichment. All of these actions are being proposed by the DNR in their new strategic plan, and pose serious threats to Indiana's economic base and security. If the DNR was so sure that they are doing all they can to protect the forests that we have enabled them to manage, then why are they trying to secretly exempt themselves from following the law and exclude themselves from public scrutiny? What SB 354 would do is continue the attempts being made in this legislative session to sell off public assets to private corporations and individuals, without public input. THIS IS NOT AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE. Indiana state forests only supply 1 percent of all timber going to the market each year. THIS IS NOT A SURE WAY TO INCREASE THE STATE'S BUDGET. The DNR has never been able to show the public figures that prove that logging on state forests makes the state any money. Costs for preparing sites and administering the program may in fact be higher than the revenues the taxpayers receive from timber receipts, as they are for nearly every national forest in the country. But the DNR refuses to account for these costs and provide the public transparency. Surely Indiana can protect the very small percent of public land that is still available for protection of such key industries as water, wildlife, hunting, and tourism. Please do not pass SB 354 without removing the two exemptions! Thank you for your quick attention to this matter. Yours, Ms. Citizen Need to find out who your legislators are? Click here!!! Protect Our Woods
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