Virginia Chapter Sierra Club–– The George Washington National Forest is one of the most importantblocks of public land in Virginia and is used by citizens across the commonwealth. There will likely not be any further comment opportunity for the public to make comments before the Forest Service picks the final plan. The final plan will determine how the George Washington National Forest is managed for the next 10-15 years.
A sample comment letter can be found below.
Mailed comments can be sent to the Forest Service at George Washington Plan Revision; George Washington & Jefferson National Forests; 5162 Valleypointe Parkway; Roanoke, VA 24019.
Electronic comments can be submitted to the following address: comments-southern-georgewashington-jefferson@fs.fed.us .
Comments must be postmarked by October 17, 2011 (if mailed) or received by the Forest Service by midnight Oct. 17, ’11 (if emailed).
See http://vasierraclub.org/2011/06/george-washington-national-forest/
for further details.
Thanks for helping to get the word out.
Sherman Bamford
Chapter Forests Committee Chair
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To Maureen Hyzer, Forest Supervisor, and Planning Staff
George Washington & Jefferson National Forests

5162 Valleypointe Parkway

Roanoke, VA 24019
Dear Supervisor Hyzer:
Please consider the following comments while you develop and approve a final plan for the George Washington National Forest plan. 

As you know, the George Washington National Forest is one of the most important collections of federal lands in the greater Chesapeake Bay watershed. It is not only incredibly important for the health of our planet but is also a treasured destination for many in Virginia and the surrounding region.
I applaud you for the ban on horizontal natural gas drilling proposed in Alternative G (the agency’s preferred alternative) and other alternatives, and would like all hydrofracking banned on the Forest.
In addition, I support the stronger forest-wide riparian standards in Alternative G that were developed as part of the Fish and Mussel Conservation Plan. 


Alternative C (the Conservation Alternative) is a well-crafted alternative proposed by Virginia citizens. Alternative C should have gotten the thorough analysis and attention that it deserves, but so far has not. I ask you to incorporate the following aspects of Alternative C into the final plan, regardless of which alternative is chosen.
Please plan for climate change by protecting core wilderness areas, reducing forest fragmentation and decreasing and eliminating non-climate stresses such as logging, road building and oil and gas leasing.
Protect all areas identified in the Virginia’s Mountain Treasures publication to the degree possible by designating them as unsuitable for timber harvest, new road building, and surface-occupying oil and gas drilling


Protect all roadless areas to the greatest extent possible. The Forest Service should identify all qualified roadless areas and protect all roadless areas, whether previously inventoried or recently identified, consistent with the provisions of the 2001 Roadless Rule. 

Designate More Wilderness Areas. Only 4% of the George Washington National Forest is permanently protected Wilderness, far less than the national average of 18%. More wilderness (and national scenic area) acreage should be recommended


Protect all existing Old Growth forest. Of particular importance are the sizeable old growth tracts at Peters Mountain North and Frozen Knob areas identified by the Virginia Division of Natural Heritage. All old growth areas should be designated as being unsuitable for logging and roadbuilding and protected as special areas (old growth protection)

or as research natural areas.
No Natural Gas Leasing and Hydrofracking. The full cycle of natural gas development and hydraulic fracking (or hydrofracking) brings roads, pipelines, and noise to national forest lands and disrupts groundwater. There should be no hydrofracking or federal natural gas leasing in the forest. Strong protective measures should be applied to ensure that privately-owned mineral developments do not destroy other values on the Forest.
I support the Friends of Shenandoah Mountain proposal (www.friendsofshenandoahmountain.org/), which would protect roadless areas in the Shenandoah Mountain, Big Levels, and Laurel Fork areas under a combination of designations, including recommended wilderness and recommended national scenic area designation.
Sincerely yours,
Signature_________________________________________
Name_____________________________________________
Address____________________________________________
Phone ___________________ Email ____________________
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Sherman Bamford
Forests Committee Chair, Virginia Chapter – Sierra Club
PO Box 3102
Roanoke, Va. 24015-1102
(540) 343-6359
bamford2@verizon.net