
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1994                    TAG: 9406150485 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: B5    EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA  
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: 940615                                 LENGTH: ROANOKE

TWO NATIONAL FORESTS MERGE TO SAVE MONEY

{LEAD} The two national forests in western Virginia are planning a merger that's expected to save about $2 million annually in administrative costs when completed by 1997, the regional forester said Tuesday.

The George Washington National Forest will keep its name, but lose its supervisor in Harrisonburg and about 56 of the 76 employees at its headquarters. The Jefferson National Forest offices in Roanoke will be the headquarters for both forests.

{REST} The 12 ranger districts in both forests will remain where they are. By saving money with the merger, more money will be directed to the districts, said Bob Joslin, who directs the 14-state Southern Region from his Atlanta office.

``It's a logical move and will get more money to the ground to care for the land and serve the people,'' Jefferson National Forest Supervisor Joy Berg said in a statement.

The move must be approved by the secretary of agriculture.

The job reductions are expected to be made through transfers and retirements, and layoffs are not anticipated, Jefferson forest spokesman Dave Olson said.

The George Washington forest includes 1.1 million acres and stretches from the northwestern corner of the state to Alleghany County, while the Jefferson has about 700,000 acres down to the southwestern corner of the state.

by CNB