WASHINGTON – A pair of Alabama lawmakers want to expand the boundaries of the Talladega National Forest by 50,000 acres with new legislation.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, introduced the Talladega National Forest Expansion Act, which gives the U.S. Forest Service the ability to buy land from willing sellers to expand the proclamation boundary of the forest in east Alabama.
“By expanding the proclamation boundary, we will boost tourism in surrounding towns and keep the forest beautiful for years to come,” Tuberville said in a statement. “I’m thankful to be working with Rep. Rogers to expand the forest’s boundaries and ensure continued economic and agricultural prosperity in our great state.”
The legislation would support the completion of the state’s longest hiking trail, the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail. Currently, hikers on the trail endure 15 miles of roadwalks to complete the trail along its southernmost portions. By expanding the boundary, those 15 miles become off-road trails…