Senate Ag Committee Passes Tuberville Legislation to Expand Talladega National Forest

Legislation would expand proclamation boundary by approximately 50,000 acres

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry passed U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) Talladega National Forest Expansion Act in a legislative package with several other U.S. Forest Service lands bills. The Talladega National Forest Expansion Act would expand the proclamation boundary of the Talladega National Forest by approximately 50,000 acres in three counties in East Alabama. Sen. Tuberville introduced the Talladega National Forest Expansion Act earlier this year. 

“As Alabama continues to grow, citizens need access to safe and reliable hiking trails and outdoor spaces to encourage wellness and improved health,” said Sen. Tuberville. “I am proud to lead this legislation to promote both tourism and conservation efforts for all Alabamians.”

This bill would give the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) the authority to purchase land from willing sellers—stimulating the local economies and promoting conservation in the surrounding areas. Alabama’s premiere hiking trail, the Pinhoti Trail System, would be greatly enhanced upon the USFS acquirement of these acres.

Sen. Tuberville’s full letter of support for the bill to AG Chairman Boozman can be found here

BACKGROUND:

The Talladega National Forest was established in 1936 with two distinct proclamation boundaries: the Oakmulgee Division and the Talladega Division. Currently, the Talladega Division has a proclamation covering 400,000 acres with roughly 200,000 acres under ownership by the U.S. government. Since its establishment, the proclaimed boundary of the Talladega National Forest has been adjusted nine times, most recently in the 1996 Farm Bill.

The Pinhoti Trail, part of the Talladega National Forest, is Alabama’s longest-distance hiking trail. Currently, the trail is interrupted by 15 miles of road walks between its southernmost portions. This legislation would allow those lands to be acquired by the USFS, improve trail maintenance efforts, and improve hiker safety by transforming the 15-miles of road walks into off-road trails.

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

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