Forest Consolidation Nixed

Consolidation of the Bridger-Teton and Caribou-Targhee National Forests will not take place.  Bridger Teton National Forest Supervisor Jacque Buchanan says Acting Regional Forester Marlene Finley has concurred that nothing sufficient was found that would warrant enough savings to the forest service to justify such an action. Buchanan says she made the presentation Friday and Finley concurred that the report clearly showed that such a consolidation of the two forests would not meet the criteria they had set out to warrant carrying it forward.  Buchanan says, “Friday, we got the good news, and I think for everybody – certainly for the communities that the Bridger-Teton services, and I believe all the communities the Caribou-Targhee services – will be better off maintaining our autonomy the way that we have been set up.” Meanwhile, since the purchase of ten acres on the campus of the Bridger-Teton Supervisor’s office in north Jackson was not approved by voters in November, that parcel is now scheduled to be sold by public auction during the up-coming summer months.  However, no decision on the fate of the Supervisor’s office location has been determined yet.