State Senator Paul Bailey said TWRA’s decision to stop the habitat project in White County serves as a postponement- and may not be the final answer.
Bailey said the agency wants to take a step back and make sure the clear cutting plan is what’s best for the wilderness area.
“They are going to postpone the clear cutting for a period of time while they do some more investigations and work through the process,” Bailey said.
Bailey said he has received a notice from the agency of the postponement. Bailey said he thinks the concern from lawmakers caused TWRA to rethink the project. Thirty-four legislators sent a bi-partisan letter to the agency criticizing the plan last month.
“I think when they saw there was that much support from legislators in the request to stop the project that they wanted to put a hold on it until they can make sure that they’re doing what is in the best interest of Bridgestone Firestone,” Bailey said.
The stopped habitat project for quail focused on some 800 acres on the north side of the wilderness area. According to TWRA, the cutting project for some 1,200 acres in the southern area will move forward.
“I’ve been involved ever since back earlier in the year when the plan came out when they were going to clear cut up to 2,000 acres,” Bailey said. “I had been notified by citizens of White County and those concerned of the removal of mature trees.”
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