Letter: Kudos to Reid for land vote

Monday, Oct. 13, 2003 | 9:18 a.m.

My thanks and appreciation go out to Sen. Harry Reid, who showed again recently that he cares about the fate of our national forests and particularly America's rain forest in Alaska.

The senator cast a vote in Congress opposing a proposal which severely limits the public's ability to challenge logging projects in the Tongass National Forest, our nation's largest public forest. While ultimately the vote wasn't enough to stop this ill-advised policy, I applaud the senator's position on this important issue. Like all national forests, this Alaskan rain forest belongs to every American.

If we want our grandchildren to be able to enjoy forests like the Tongass in the next century, we need to preserve our right to have a say in how they are managed. I'm glad that public officials like Sen. Reid realize the value of public participation in decisions about these wild places.

SARAH LEMAGIE Juneau, Alaska Editor's Note: Sarah Lemagie is on the staff of the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, a coalition of 18 organizations that works with governments and businesses to sustain the economy while protecting the environment.

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