News Releases for April 2002
April 1, 2002
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Hoeven To Meet With U.S.D.A. Deputy Secretary Moseley, Under Secretary Mark Rey
BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor John Hoeven today announced he will meet with U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Jim Moseley and Under Secretary Mark Rey Wednesday, April 3 in Washington, D.C. on the proposed grasslands management plan.
“The plan is unacceptable as proposed by the Forest Service,” Hoeven said. “It creates too much uncertainty and poses negative economic consequences for North Dakota. We all want to protect our environment, but the people who live and work the grasslands must have a comfort level with the plan before the Forest Service moves forward. If the Forest Service cannot fix it, then they need to rewrite it.”
The Forest service estimates that the proposed plan could have a negative economic impact of $3 million a year; independent estimates indicate the impact could be as much as $108 million a year, according to Hoeven.
Hoeven met with U.S.D.A. Secretary Ann Venneman in February and asked for assistance on the grassland plan. She directed Moseley to visit the grasslands to assess the problem at ground level, which he did in March. Moseley was accompanied by the Governor. Hoeven will now meet with Moseley and Rey, who oversees the Forest Service, to push for action.
“I have pushed the Bush Administration hard to support agriculture, for example to provide full funding for the farm bill,” Hoeven said. “Now our farmers and ranchers need help with the grasslands plan. We want a plan that is good for all North Dakotans, but it must be one that works for our ranchers and others who live and work in the grasslands.”
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