I recently read your article "Smoky Mountains National Park Record Visitation Proves it is 'One of America's Greatest Treasures'" published on Jan. 13. I was very happy to see that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited National Park, and especially happy to see that it broke its own record for visitation in 2016.
I am concerned with our new administration's stance on environmental conservation. Sacrificing our natural resources, like parks and forest, is detrimental to our country in so many ways. I found it comforting that you mentioned the economic impact of the GSMNP to East Tennessee. Many of our parks and forests have similar economic impacts , like the Ocoee River's $43.8 million impact on East Tennessee in 2013.
Bringing these economic impacts to light is crucial in seeking compromise with those who would exploit our parks for their natural resources. Thank you for articles like these that highlight important issues and protect our most incredible places in the U.S.
Ryan Baker
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I am a junior at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga studying Public Administration and Nonprofit Management. I am responding to the article Smoky Mountains National Park’s Record Visitation Proves It Is “One of America’s Greatest Treasure” published on Jan. 13.
I grew up near the Smokies and they have had significant value in my life growing up and now that I am older I realize the privilege I had to grow up near these beautiful mountains. Reading this article gave me more insight on the impact they have had on others, cultural value and economic stimulus. I know that now more than ever there is an urgency and importance to protect these wild spaces for others to enjoy too. I study political policies within my major and environmental policies when I studied abroad I saw the real life implications of them. I also see the beauty and diversity in nature we have in the United States.
I am writing because I want to see places like the Smokies protected with laws like the Antiquities Act and the Land and Water Conservation Fund to be maintained for the people and not private interests. With environmental degradation continually occurring as well as this new administration in Congress it is important now more than ever to show our support for these laws and to protect our wilderness. I am calling on Senators Corker and Alexander to stand up and protect these laws for and with the people.
I hope to see these laws protected to keep beautiful natural places for the future.
Jenn Galler
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On Wednesday, Jan. 11, Senator Alexander introduced legislation that would preserve former President James K. Polk’s home in Columbia, Tn. This legislation would preserve President Polk’s home under the National Park Service. After reading the Chattanoogan’s article, I was especially moved by Senator Alexander’s opinion on how the preservation of Polk’s home could positively impact American high school students.
I am a University of Tennessee Chattanooga student majoring in Early Childhood Education, and my passion for children correlates to my passion for the environment. I want my future students to be able to spend time in our national parks like I did as a child growing up in Knoxville. With this being said, I have great concerns about threats to the rules and policies that protect our public lands, forests, rives, and wildlife. There are expected attacks on our public lands in the next four years.
I urge Senator Alexander to keep fighting for our state by defending our bedrock environmental laws from attacks in Congress. Please, protect important conservation laws such as the Antiquities Act and the Wilderness Act.
It is extremely important for our state’s senators and citizens to be advocates for the environment. Future generations should have the opportunity to experience all that our nation has to offer.
Lauren Leisenring
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Like many conservatives, heritage is an important virtue to me. I was born and raised here, in Chattanooga, and was taught by my family to carefully watch my spending, my manners, my mouth, and yes, my relationship with God's creation.
Tennessee is an easy place to be a conservative. We have a big backyard, full of clean rivers flowing out of wild mountains. You can find solitude in our pristine wilderness areas, recreational opportunities in our quiet backcountry, and lively conversation in the many businesses that rely on outdoor recreation on our public lands to pay the bills.
That’s why I’m so confused by Republican attempts in this Congress to attack the very public lands that provide us with so much. Already, we’ve seen Republicans in both chambers introduce bills to sell off over 3.3 million acres of public land (HR 621), deny access of National Forest land to recreationists and sportsmen (HR 232), and restrict President Trump's power to declare national monument proposals like Tennessee’s own James K. Polk House (S 33).
These attacks are an affront to my heritage. Public lands should remain in public hands, and the same families that have been enjoying these landscapes for generations should be allowed to continue to do so.
I was taught that our lands and waters were here before us, and that they will be here after us. So by all means: hunt, fish, hike, and paddle to your heart’s content. But please, don’t forget that our responsibility is to pass God’s creation on to the next generation in better shape than we found it.
Standing up to these attacks is the first step in conserving these lands. Call your senators and representatives today and tell them to oppose any efforts to sell off public lands.
It’s in our conservative heritage to do so.
Samantha Lynn
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Ryan,
To all who share your concerns, please call, write, and email your representatives to oppose pending legislation H.R. 621 effectively giving away 3.3 million acres of public land. To put it in perspective, that is the size of Connecticut.
Nothing is off limits, once the opponents of conservation control all the three branches of the federal government.
Frank Wrinn
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Responding to the unnecessary worry of those concerned with the H.R. 621 bill, I would like to point out some key information.
First, the bill is very short and easy to comprehend. I recommend any and all to read it.
The bill proposes the sale of certain federal lands in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. Notice the western trend? It is no coincidence. Forty-seven percent of all lands in the western U.S. are owned by the federal government. Astounding.
Just for perspective, I'll present you with some numbers: Arizona 48 percent, Colorado 37 percent, Montana 30 percent, Nebraska 1 percent, Nevada 85 percent, Oregon 53 percent, Idaho 30 percent, Utah 57 percent, Wyoming 42 percent, and New Mexico 42 percent. These are the percentages of each state's land that is federally owned. Those numbers climb if you add in Indian reservations and other public holdings.
Back to the bill. Those "awful" statesmen have also included in their proposal that all proceeds from land sales go toward the reduction of public debt. Whew! A solution, though small, coming from the legislature is a miracle.
Now, the bill also provides limitations to lands that could be sold. Lands excluded from sale are those: not identified as disposable, subject to recreation and public use (yes, our national parks are a-okay), identified for state selection, identified as Indian reservations, or lands used by local government.
Likely, most of the land that would be up for sale will be undesirable. However, these lands go greatly unused and nothing is lost from their sale to private buyers.
The people of the nation, the private sector should be free to purchase and develop this land as they see fit. Potentially, this largely unused land could be developed to benefit the economy - both local and national - and provide for the expansion of public interest.
And, rest assured, 3.3 million acres is a drop in the bottomless bucket. Currently, the federal government owns 247 million acres in the U.S.
LeAnne Paul
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Dear LeAnne Paul,
Thank you for extinguishing the fires of panic that pop up so frequently these days.
Ted Ladd
Ooltewah
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I am also concerned about H.R. 621 bill selling off U.S. lands. I don't understand Ms. Paul's letter. If this land is so undesirable, then who would want to buy it? If we start selling off our lands, it won't be long until all lands will be sold to the highest bidder.
I know 3.3 million acres seems like a "drop in the bucket," but land is finite and once it is sold off and developed it will never be recouped.
Let's write our representatives to oppose this pending litigation. Perhaps a good idea to reduce the nation's debt, however, the sale of these lands will not make a dent in our public debt.
Vicki Hill
Hixson
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I was inspired by your recent article Smoky Mountains National Park’s Record Visitation Proves It is “One of America’s Greatest Treasures” published on Jan. 13. I am not native to Tennessee but I can remember the wonderful spiritual experience of first visiting the Smoky Mountains.
However, it is not only the Smoky Mountains, Tennessee’s other federal lands like national forests also provide the visitor with that difficult-to-find experience of natural wildness. As Tennesseans, we should not take these places for granted. These natural resources provide economic, recreational, and natural value.
So, you can imagine my shock to see a news article about a bill H.R. 621 proposed in the 115th Congress to sell off some of our federal public lands in the western part of the United States.
Think about the various ways that you use and enjoy our National Forests and other federal lands. Contact our two champions of Wilderness in Tennessee, Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker to ask them to oppose any efforts in the Senate to sell our federal lands in any U.S. state.
Theresa Underwood