Letter to Chamber of Commerce

May 27, 2005

Mr. Dale Steenbergen, President
Ms. Anita Roush, Chairman, Board of Directors
Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce
Dahlonega, Georgia

Dear Mr. Steenbergen and Ms. Roush:

On May 5 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a revised rule that gives Governor Perdue the opportunity to take an action that would be beneficial to businesses in and residents of Dahlonega and Lumpkin County. The revised rule withdraws the protection afforded certain currently roadless natural areas in the Chattahoochee National Forest but provides that the Governor may petition the USDA (of which the U.S. Forest Service is a part) for special management procedures and protection for these areas.

Sixty three businesses in Dahlonega-Lumpkin County have signed a letter encouraging the Chamber of Commerce to take action for more permanent protection of these areas. These self-explanatory letters are being transferred to you on behalf of these businesses.

We recommend that you formally let Governor Perdue know that businesses in this area have spoken and that the Chamber supports his petitioning for special management procedures for these areas. With so many issues on his plate, the voice of the Chamber will undoubtedly be important in getting his attention to a matter that is important to the economy of our area and to the continued high quality of living.

The natural areas in question make up only about 7% of the National Forest in north Georgia. A several year long process identified 63,000 of the 749,000 acres in the Chattahoochee National Forest that currently have no roads and have special features that merit special protection from mining and logging (benefit a few big companies but not our businesses and citizens). Those areas were given special protection in 2001, but with the USDA issuance on May 5 will no longer have the protection unless Governor Perdue exercises the option to petition for special management procedures.

Enclosed for your consideration and modification is a draft proposed letter to the Governor. I would be happy to discuss this issue with you and others in the Chamber and provide additional information as needed.

Sincerely,

Forest Hilyer, Facilitator (replaced Kate Smolski, referred to in some petition letters)

Lumpkin County Coalition to Protect the National Forest

Enclosed also: Press release on Lumpkin County Coalition to Protect the National Forest

Prototype letter sent by USDA on May 5 to governors of affected states