MEMBER OF CONGRESS

Congress of the UNITED STATES

Ms. Emma Carroll
Congressional Liaison
USDA Forest Service
Yates Building,
5th Floor NW Wing
201 14th Street SW
Washington, DC 20250

I have received the enclosed inquiry from my constituent, Barb Goodson. As you can see, Barb Goodson has questions concerning the Palmer Cemetery and has articulated them in the enclosed letter. I would like to ask your careful review of these comments and your thoughtful consideration of the points that have been raised.

Please direct your response to Sarah Crouthers of my staff at your earliest convenience. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

J EMERSON

Member of Congress

JAE/sc

The Honorable Jo Ann Emerson
U.S. House of Representatives
2440 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Emerson:

Thank you for your May 19, 2004, letter on behalf of your constituent, Ms. Barb Goodson, concerning travel management in the national forests and especially in the Mark Twain National Forest.

We appreciate Ms. Goodson's concerns for managing off-highway vehicles (OHV), including all-terrain vehicles (ATV), in a manner consistent with the multi-purpose goals of forest management. The Mark Twain National Forest staff is considering proposals to provide additional OHV opportunities in the Forest and is currently completing an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposal. The communities surrounding the area have been contacted regarding the proposal and are generally in support of the concept as a means of providing additional economic revenue in the area through increased tourism and recreational use. A portion of the Forest web site, at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/marktwain/projects/ohv_study/index.htm. provides information on the proposal.

The Mark Twain National Forest staff shares Ms. Goodson's concerns regarding the historic significance of sites in the Palmer area and the potential effects of the proposed OHV trails on those sites. An archeologist is part of the team working on the EIS for this project and a thorough survey has been conducted to record all the historic and prehistoric sites that could be affected by the proposed trails. All the trails proposed have been routed in order to avoid causing adverse impacts to cultural resource sites, and 51 miles of trail are proposed for closure, some of which tread through or near cultural resource sites. Resource protection is one of the primary reasons for proposing this project.

Thank you for your interest in the management of the national forests. If additional information is desired, Integrated Resources Officer Kristine Swanson, in Rolla, at 573 -341- 7 416 and District Ranger Henry Hickerson, in Poplar Bluff, at 573-785-1475 can provide more specific information about the proposal.

Sincerely,

DAVID G. HOLLAND
Director, Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources

Dgholland@fs.fed.us

Kswanson@fs.fed.us

Hhickerson@fs.fed.us

Dear Ms. Emerson:
Please find enclosed a copy of my reply to David Holland's (USFS) reply to you. Please do not take his word for what he has told you. Ask for documentation to support what he has told you. I take great offense at a man in his position telling you what he has told you. I believe he has been grossly misinformed. He could not have checked this info that he sent you or he would be aware that it is untrue of the Palmer area. I cannot speak for the other 2 areas involved but this area does not support their proposal. This is a grave injustice done to you and our community. How can you be expected to assist us if you are not aware of the facts? You should be able to trust this man to send you facts. If you have been told the truth, I am sure he will be able to support his statements with documentation. Please ask. Thank you for your time and assistance.
Sincerely,
Barb Goodson

David Holland
US Dept. of Agriculture
US Forest Service
PO Box 96090
Washington, DC

Dear Sir:

Washington County is not generally in support of the concept as a means of providing additional economic revenue, though Washington County will be forced to financially support this federal project if you do not stop this proposed trail. I am sorry to tell you that you have been grossly misinformed and I believe it was negligent of you to pass this untrue information on to our US Representative Joann Emerson without confirming the truth. I would like to see documentation that shows how many local landowners of Washington County were contacted by the USFS on this proposal. I would also like to see anything you have which may state that this community supports your proposed trail. I need to see proof that this proposed trail will economically benefit my community. Under the Freedom of Information Act, I believe you are required to show documents you have which supports what you have told Joann Emerson. I am not sure what red tape is involved or even what the procedure is but I can find out if you insist.

My community is fighting desperately to save Washington County from your proposed trail. Very few landowners were notified by the USFS about this proposal. We went door to door of every home in the immediate vicinity of the proposed trail. Please believe me when I tell you that 2% of the area support your proposal. We are the ones that carried the petition that everyone was so happy to sign. The proof of this is in your Potosi Ranger's office. It was submitted during the first comment period. The only community that supports your proposed trail is the Midwest Jeep Thing and they are not local.

The 51 miles of trails to be closed will not protect our historic or prehistoric resources because they are not in the Palmer area. And if you do not physically obstruct these roads and make access impossible, they will not be considered closed by the immense crowd you intend to invite to our area.

I keep hearing about the economic impact this trail will have on our community. Sir, please believe me when I tell you that the only impact for us will be negative. The USFS will benefit economically. Washington County will suffer greatly. It is our county taxes that maintains the county roads which you intend to use as Jeep/ATV trails. There is a tremendous amount of damage done now which will not alleviate when the traffic is immensely increased. I don't understand how you can appropriate our county roads for a federal Jeep/ATV trail. I am aware that the other areas do not involve county roads. I was informed by the Washington County Commissioners that the USFS does not pay enough in lieu of taxes to maintain these roads now. The burden is on the county taxpayers to keep these roads passable.
I have in my possession, as the USFS has in their possession, letters from the Washington County Ambulance Administrator and the Belgrade Volunteer Fire Department Safety Officer stating clearly that Washington County Emergency Services cannot afford the USFS proposal. You may not be aware that Belgrade Fire Department still works on the fire tag system. Your proposed trail is almost entirely within the Belgrade Fire Department district.

These "tourists" will bring their own groceries and camping gear with them. They will not spend their money in the local motel or restaurants. They will spend their time running up and down our roads and through the forest. They even bring their own gasoline which pours all over the ground when they pour it from the jugs into their machines of destruction. They are not going to spend their money here except to buy your permits. The only profit in this entire scenario will be in the pockets of the USFS. If you have information proving otherwise, we would like to see it.

Please take the time to read the comments received by the USFS on this proposed trail in our area. You will realize that this letter only scratches the surface of our concerns. Are you aware that there is no way to control access into the Palmer area because there are so many access points? Are you aware that the Palmer area contains soluble lead which may be stirred up with the increase in tourism? Not only barite was mined in the area but lead is also present in the same area. There is galena (lead sulfate) which is insoluble. There is also Anglesite (lead carbonate) and cerasite (lead sulfate). Both of these are water soluble and can cause severe problems in the environment and could cause our community to become hazardous to our health. Are you aware that there will be no increase in the number of USFS law enforcement officers to help patrol the area? Again, that will fall upon us, the county taxpayers. The Washington County Sheriff's Deputies will be forced to pick up the slack.

The USFS has no right to force Washington County to carry the burden of financing this project which will only benefit the USFS. Please be aware that the local community is willing to take whatever action is available to us to stop this proposed trail. It is unconstitutional. I speak for the majority of my community when I say we do not support your proposed trail. My proof is in the comment letters and petitions that the USFS has received and that people are still signing.

Respectfully,
Barb Goodson
PO Box 7
Belgrade, MO