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Bush sells public land to pay for education Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/13880534.htm http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/13880534.htm Posted on Wed, Feb. 15, 2006 Public land sales could increase development Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Bush administration's plan to sell thousands of acres of national forest land in South Carolina could easily lead to more development in scenic areas, real estate agents say. The proposal would sell more than 300,000 acres of national forests and other public land, including about 4,600 acres in South Carolina, to help pay for rural schools. The South Carolina land ranges from remote Lowcountry swamps to land along Upstate highways including roughly 45 tracts in the Sumter and Francis Marion national forests. Some property near Oconee State Park at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where visitors can camp, hike or raft the Chattooga River, might be among the most attractive for new homes, condominiums or a golf course. "It would sell overnight," said Walhalla real estate agent John Powell, who opposes the sale. But "people are not going to drive here to see condominiums or houses or subdivisions." Tracts ranging from several acres to hundreds of acres in South Carolina could be part of the largest sale of forest land in decades. U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Stephanie Johnson said the public will be able to comment on the proposals. The agency wants to sell property it doesn't need, and many tracts are outside national forest boundaries or are already surrounded by private land, Johnson said. Supporters say the land sales could help poorer areas like McCormick County, where almost half of the land is owned by federal or state entities. Near McCormick, the federal proposal would open more than 660 acres of public property to private ownership, including nearly 400 acres between the town of McCormick and Thurmond Lake. "Anything President Bush or members of Congress can do to free up land would be good for McCormick County," administrator Bruce Cooley said. "We definitely need more land on our tax rolls." But conservation groups, and officials with the state Natural Resources Department and Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department oppose the plan. "In a day and age where we look very closely at trying to protect and preserve unique pieces of South Carolina, this goes contrary to what we're trying to do, particularly in a place like Oconee," said Phil Gaines, an assistant director in the state parks department. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., said he would fight the proposal. Congress would have to approve the sales, and has rejected similar proposals in recent years. "I've been up here long enough to know though that this administration has an agenda that it is able to pursue without any oversight whatsoever," Clyburn said. "If they are hellbent on pursing this without any Congressional oversight, they'll probably succeed." U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis said news of the proposal hit close to home, where family members enjoy hiking and whitewater trips. "I'm willing to hear the Forest Service's justification," said Inglis, R-S.C. But "the burden is one the forest service to explain why these parcels aren't valuable for conservation or wildlife or recreation." Inglis said he anticipates the land isn't going to be near any breathtaking scenes. "Most South Carolinians are happy to have these assets, and we really do cherish these assets, particularly the ones near the spectacular waterfalls in the Upstate," he said. "Surely, none of these lands are going to be near any of these places. ... If they are, it will be a total nonstarter." The federal plan, announced last week, has prompted phone calls and e-mails to local Forest Service offices, Johnson said. Gwen Fowler, a real estate agent whose family has lived in Oconee County for generations, said the surrounding public land would boost the value of private property. "This is like selling an heirloom your grandmother gave to you," she said. "I've had calls from people all day upset about this." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com

Bush sells public land to pay for education Government sells off public lighthouse in auction Selling off public land [jpg] States selling highways to solve budget issues { February 1 2006 } Files Listed: 4

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