[at-l] Trail Action Alert GEORGIA/SPRINGER

[kahley@ptd.net (kahley)]

He's a win win.  A willing seller!!!!!!  If we can just get the funding 
thru......


Scroll all the way down for contact info


------- Forwarded message follows -------
All of us who work and walk the AT in Georgia know that there is
only one view from Springer Mtn. It is due west toward Buck Town
and the little lake on Tickanettley Creek. About the first 3/4 miles of
that view is owned by the Forest Service. Beyond that point on a
significant piece of high ground lies a 480 acre tract of land owned
by the Little/Glover estate. Because this property is such a critical
one to the integrity of the view from Springer, the ATC, GATC, and
Forest Service have desired for several years to buy it. To
complete the deal though requires a willing seller and the funds.
The family is now willing to sell 350 acres to the Forest Service and
retain use of the remaining 150 acres for their lifetime through the
execution of conservation easements. Obviously, the family has
other options to dispose of their property and with the rate of second
home development all over North Georgia we all know how the view
from Springer could potentially be marred.

Fortunately, through the efforts of the Forest Service, ATC, and
GATC, feferalfunds have been tentatively allocated in Pres. Bush's
2003 Budget Proposal to purchase this critical viewshed property.
Abudget line itemcalled the "Georgia Mountains" package has
tentative funding of $3.2 million from the Land and Water
Conservation Fund (LWCF) for the purchase of 4 parcels: the
Little/Glover tract near Springer, an addition to Mt. Yonah, several
inholdings in the Etowah River basin, and some acreage in the
vicinity of Jacks River in the Cohuttas. The LWCF obtains its
monies from oil drilling permits and royalties, rather than taxpayer
funds, and is generally used to acquire and conserve lands for
public use.

The competition for these funds is keen. Representatives of the
ATC have already visitedthe Washington offices of Senators Miller
and Cleland, as well as Congressman Nathan Deal. Your GATC
Board of Directors and Conservation Committee will visit the local
offices of our Senators and House Representatives during the next
two weeks to voice our support for acquiring these properties. You
too can help. Please write a letter or E-mail to your two Senators,
yourHouse Representative, and Representative Nathan Deal to
make the following points and requests:

+ Your personal commitment as a hiker and AT maintainer to the
preservation of the AT footpath and its critical viewsheds in Ga.

+ Yourstrong support forthe current selection of properties as
reflected in the Georgia Mountains package (Little/Glover,
  Yonah, Etowah River basin, and Jacks River)

+ Request a letter from their office to either the Senate
subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies or the House
  Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies indicating strong
support for the $3.2 million funding level in Pres. Bush's
budget for the US Forest Service's "Georgia Mountains" LWCF
line item appropriations request.

We believe that the window of opportunity for us to be heard is
during the next 2 weeks. Take a minute NOW while the issue is
fresh to write your letter. Since the GATC List Serve limits the
length of messages to be broadcast, I will send the address in a
subsequent message.

Thanks for your support! Jerry Seabolt - Conservation Director
Senator Zell MillerRep. John
Linder
257 Dirkson Senate Office Building1727
Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-
1006Washington, D.C. 20515-1011
E-mailE-mail
Access Web
site:John.linder@mail.house.
gov
www.miller.senate.gov
Navigation: click "contact the Senator"
Senator Max ClelandRep. Bob
Barr
461 Dirksen Senate IOffice Building1207
Longworth House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510-
1005Washington,D.C.
20515-
1007
E-mail: E-mail:
AccessWebsiteBarr.ga.@
mail.house.gov
www.cleland.senate.gov
Navigation: Click "E-mail me"
Rep. Nathan Deal
2437 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1009
E-mail:
Access Website: www.house.gov/deal
Navigation: click "Constituent Services"."Office E-mail",
"Washington DC Staff", "E-mail Nathan"
Rep. John Lewis
343 Cameron House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-1005
E-mail:
John.lewis@mail.house.gov
Rep. Cynthia McKinney
124 Cannon House Office Building
Washington. D.C. 20515-1004
E-mail:
Cymck@mail.house.gov
Additional addresses may be obtained from
www.congress.org/congress.org/bio