Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 9, 1995 TAG: 9501190045
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CATHRYN MCCUE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Kelley, 54, starts a new job today as program analyst for the U.S. Forest Service's regional office in Atlanta, which oversees the George Washington and Jefferson forests in Virginia, and national forests in 11 other states and Puerto Rico.
His move was prompted by the impending merger of the George Washington and Jefferson forests, said forest spokesman W. Terry Smith. Already the two share a number of positions, such as air-quality specialist and timber officer. The merger was proposed last year and is awaiting only the formal approval of Chief of the Forest Service. The new super-forest will be headquartered in Roanoke.
Joy Berg, supervisor on the Jefferson, said she is looking for jobs elsewhere in the agency throughout the country. Once the merger is approved, and a supervisor position is advertised, "Believe me," Berg said, "I will apply for this one. I really do like Roanoke." Until then, if she gets an good job offer, she'll take it. "It beats unemployment," she said.
Kelley, a graduate of Oklahoma State University in general forestry, began his Forest Service career in 1964. In a letter to employees last week, he wrote:
"I kinda like the design and especially the wording the folks on the Jefferson came up with for the merged forests. The wording states, 'George Washington and Jefferson National Forests ... The Best Part of Virginia.' ''
Other Forest Service news
Schools and highways in Virginia will get a boost from the Forest Service's annual payment to counties with federal lands. The total payment will be $820,207, which is $152,207 more than last year.
By law, the agency must return 25 percent of revenues it collects from use of its lands, primarily from timber sales, grazing, recreation and mining. This year, the Jefferson collected $1.1 million and is returning $268,992 to the state. The George Washington collected $2.4 million, and is returning $552,125.
Counties in our area will receive: Alleghany - $81,649; Bedford - $7,321; Botetourt - $32,955; Craig - $44,891; Giles - $24,658; Montgomery - $7,417; Pulaski - $7,507; Roanoke - $1,198; Rockbridge - $34,414; and Wythe - $22,199.
The Forest Service recently signed an agreement with the National Science Foundation to expand cooperation in long-term ecological research. The program, already underway, helps scientists with various groups and agencies exchange information to increase our understanding of acid rain in the east, depletion of Pacific salmon and steelhead trout in the Northwest, and other national problems. Such long-term research will help the Forest Service meet its mission to promote sustainable ecosystems, said Jack Ward Thomas, chief of the Forest Service.
Alleghany County has been named the winner of the National Rural Community Assistance Award from the Forest Service. The county contains 142,122 acres of the George Washington National Forest and a district ranger office in Covington.
One of 17 national awards, the award is given to groups that implement a successful rural development project with grant money from the Forest Service.
In 1991, Alleghany County received $20,000 to develop a community recreation center, which is now a hub for family activities in Covington, Clifton Forge and the county.
Banking on Virginia's clean air
Every day, we trade money for goods and services, or put it in the bank for the future. Now that simple transaction is being applied to air pollution, but it's much more complicated.
Trading air pollution "credits" among industries has become one of the hottest strategies to protect clean air. More than that, federal law requires states to come up with plans on how to regulate the trading and banking of air emissions.
The Department of Environmental Quality is seeking comments from the public on this issue, prior to drafting regulations.
If a company wants to build a new plant or expand an existing one in a federally designated "nonattainment area" - an area, such as Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia and Richmond, that exceeds federal limits for one or more of six pollutants - it now must more than offset the new emissions. It won't have to meet that strict standard in "attainment areas," such as the Roanoke Valley, if its new emissions maintain air quality.
To meet the requirement, existing companies can "bubble" their pollution, increasing emissions at one or more sources in exchange for decreasing emissions at another. Or, new or expanding industries could buy "pollution credits" from other industries who have greatly reduced their emissions.
Overall, the program is supposed to reduce total air pollution to levels less than those before a company decided to expand or move in.
Deadline for comments is Jan. 26, and can be sent to the Manager of Air Programs Section, DEQ, P.O. Box 10009, Richmond, Va. 23240. A public meeting will be held in Richmond on Jan. 25 to discuss and exchange ideas. For more information, call Shawn King at (804) 762-4433.
A little litter reminder
Ann Masters has a simple question for Roanokers. Would you pay $500 to dump your car ashtray?
Cigarette butts are litter, says Masters, director of Clean Valley Council. Not only that, they hang around in the environment for years. She notes that as more businesses go smoke free, and smokers are forced outside, there are more butts lying around.
"Our sidewalks and streets may have never been worse," she writes. "As our region plans for more tourism, we must see our streets as others see them." The cigarette butt complaint has apparently dominated the council's meetings for more than a year.
To litter or not to litter - that is a personal decision. Masters urges us not to do it. And if our conscience won't steer us right, she adds that littering is illegal, a Class I misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $2,500 fine or up to 12 months in jail. First-time offenders might get community service - perhaps picking up butts.
by CNB