Dear Editor,

I'm still critical of Forestry's handling of the Shawnee Wilderness Area draft management plan.

The comment period on the plan has been extended until October 20, 2009. The law requires a review of the management plan every ten years with a 60 day public comment period. The 1999 plan expired on September 14, 2009. Forestry is extending the comment period to meet the 60 day requirement and to satisfy citizen complaints about receiving notices about two weeks late.

Both the draft 2009 plan and the current 1999 management plan for the Shawnee Wilderness Area can be viewed at www.dnr.state.oh.us/forestry. E-mail nate.kirk@odnr.state.oh.us or write to Nate Kirk, State Forest Program Administrator, ODNR Division of Forestry, 2045 Morse Road, Building H-1, Columbus, Ohio 43229-6693.

The Shawnee Wilderness Area is located in Adams (mostly) and Scioto Counties, Ohio. It is Ohio's only forest wilderness and should be in interest to all Ohioans. It is of particular interest to those in Adams and Scioto Counties.

Forestry did not announce the comment period extension with a news release but rather a website posting. This is unacceptable, not enough. Fewer than half of the local residents have internet access. Those who are unlikely to access Forestry's website on a daily basis to find out new entries. More people do read the newspapers daily and are more likely to see a Forestry Announcement there.

Forestry frequently mentions that it intends to be an open, transparent and accountable agency. It says one thing but does another, hiding many of its activities from the public. It's trying to hide the wilderness draft plan, and time extension.

Find it on the internet or request a hard copy. Read it and then comment before October 20, 2009. If you do not tell government what you want, you can't complain about what government gives you. Remember, the people are the government. Get involved. Practice good citizenship. Participate in government planning when given the opportunity.

Barbara Lund

Lynx, Ohio