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Blowing Rock opposes logging in Pisgah |
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Thursday, 24 August 2006 |
by JW RANDOLPH
News Reporter
Last week, the citizens of Blowing Rock filled the town hall to voice a near unanimous opposition to a U.S. Forest Service plan to log a portion of local Pisgah National Forest known as The Globe.
The Blowing Rock Town Hall required three consecutive public meetings, each with overflowing capacity, to accommodate the citizens of Blowing Rock.
The
Globe, located one mile south of Blowing Rock, includes an area that
can be viewed from places such as Canyons Restaurant.
Mayor J.B. Lawrence and the Blowing Rock Town Council came out
unanimously opposing the unpopular plan that would open 231 acres of
forests to poisons and heavy logging.
A resolution passed by the council also requested The Globe receive a
“scenic view special designation,” by which the Forest Service would
“maintain the special feature(s) in a substantially natural condition,
while providing for an appropriate level of public access and
enjoyment.”
The Forest Service is currently analyzing all comments submitted, and
has not yet made a decision on whether or not it will follow through
with the project.
"The Forest Service acted in a devious manner in their positioning of this issue. "
Cullie Tarleton,
Blowing Rock resident
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The Forest Service’s proposition is to take more than 70 percent of the
Pisgah National Forest off the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. A chief concern to Blowing Rock citizens is the economic
impact of logging on Western North Carolina’s No.1 industry - tourism.
“I absolutely oppose it because of several issues,” Blowing Rock
resident Cullie Tarleton, currently a candidate for N.C. State House,
said.
“One of those is the potential negative impact on tourism. If you stand
at The Blowing Rock, you look directly down into that area.”
There were concerns expressed that the logging in the Pisgah
“view-shed” could devalue property and homes along the ridgeline, which
are prized by locals and seasonal visitors from all over the country.
Citizens were also worried about the ecological impact of the logging
on human health and recreation, including a loss of hunting and hiking
areas.
The Forest Service plans to use a poisonous herbicide containing
Triclopyr. “Triclopyr is a chlorinated hydrocarbon that replaced the
banned 2,4,5-T, the deadly ingredient used in Agent Orange,” said Lamar
Marshall, editor of “Wild South” and head of the Southern Appalachian
Biodiversity Project.
Perhaps most outraged were the area residents of Blowing Rock, many of
whom felt the Forest Service had been misleading and secretive in
publicizing the project.
Many residents were not made aware of the project until just recently.
“The Forest Service acted in a devious manner in their positioning of this issue,” Tarleton said.
“They never came to Blowing Rock. They never came to the town council or county commission.
They also told folks that the cutting would take place 11 miles northwest of Lenoir, which is deceptive.”
The Forest Service is required by law to submit plans 30 days in
advance for public review and comment, and many citizens, including
Sen. Elizabeth Dole, urged the Forest Service to extend the public
comment period due to citizens delayed knowledge of the project.
Citizens and the local government oppositions The Globe project does not mean it will not happen.
“Ultimately, the decision on whether or not to save The Globe is up to the Forest Service,” Lawrence said
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