| Commissioners, frustrated with the recent Forest Service Roadless
Initiative meetings passed the following resolution. These meetings, the
latest of many that use the "open house" format, often frustrate the
public. The Commissioners noted that this format offers little opportunity
for public input.
------------------------------------------------------- Page: CAN00040.TXT State: Wyoming County: Fremont Item: RESOLUTION 99-11 - Disapproval of "open house" format for federal policy public hearings Date: 12/21/99 Summary: Fremont County requests the federal government stop using the frustrating "open house" format for land policy input. Notes: According to the Fremont County commissioners office, this resolution is to be sent to approximately twenty officials, "from the President on down." Source: Fremont County. Thanks to Zane Wally of Paragon Foundation and Dorothy Bartholomew of PFUSA. ------------------------------------------------------------
WHEREAS, the Federal Government is required to take their resource management policy proposals to the public as mandated under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and WHEREAS, the public has the right to know what impacts a proposed policy will have on them, their livelihood, and the environment; and WHEREAS, it has been demonstrated that open house type hearings are not informative and do not provide adequate information exchange to ensure that the best policy decisions are made, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we request all future actions designed to meet NEPA requirements for public involvement be held as Public Hearings with the opportunity for discussion and verbal exchange of all relative information. DATED this 21st day of December, 1999. BOARD OF FREMONT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS /s/ William E. Runner, Chairman /s/ Thomas R. Satterfield, Vice-Chairman /s/ T. Crosby Allen, II /s/ Lanny Applegate /s/ Scott Luther ATTEST: /s/ Julie A. Freese, Fremont County Clerk |