Re: [pct-l] trail racing, sour grapes, grazing leases et. al.

["Jerry Goller" <trailtrash@hotmail.com>]

>From: CMountainDave@aol.com

>  4. Brick is right. Now's the time to comment on the grazing leases due to 
>be
>extended. I'm against them because in my opinion they damage the wilderness
>resource both physically and mentally. Seems to me that its hypocritical to
>tell hikers to be careful in ecological sensitive areas (Don't camp in
>meadows, no fires, crap 200 yards from water, etc.) and then allow 
>thousands
>of sheep to trample and crap all over them. Also, I don't like the feeling
>that I'm visiting a cow pasture instead of a wilderness. You can count on 
>my
>input, Brick

I'm against them for the same reason plus the fact it is just poor 
economics. It's like the FS selling timber for less than it costs the FS to 
provide roads, etc. for the loggers. Grazing leases should go for the same 
rate as grazing rights or pasture rental on private land in the area. 
Logging leases should go for the wholesale value of the timber as 
established by the deductions claimed on the tax returns of the lumber 
companies for the lumber purchased at wholesale or grown in their own 
forests in the area. This might be much easier to "sell" to the average 
voter (the ones that have the power to stop this) as a "pork barrel, rip off 
the taxpayer" thing as opposed to a "save the wilderness" thing. Once the 
leases are required to go on rates average to the area, road building is the 
responsibility of the lessee, and all roads and "improvements" must be 
returned to their original condition as of the start of the lease at the end 
of each lease,  I think you might see a dramatic drop in grazing and logging 
leases. More than one way to skin a cat.
Jerry
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