BY MIKE HORACE
Michigan's State Senator for the Upper Peninsula is calling for greater local control of federal forest lands.
State Senator Tom Casperson wants the federal government to create a pilot project that would turn control of federal forest lands over to local authorities.
He said those local officials are better equipped to make management decisions...
"We believe local control, in this case, and local management could probably do a better job, because they know the local area and they know the land better."
Casperson said the federal government has taken a let-it-stand approach to U.P. forests. He would like to see more thinning of the forests, which he said would create jobs, and help reduce the risk of wildfires.
Environmental groups, however, are often wary of proposals that would lead to increased logging operations.
The next step would be for the state legislature to pass a resolution, calling on the U.S. Forest Service to create a pilot project that establishes more local control.