LANSING, MI (AP)-- Michigan has signed an agreement that will allow state workers to handle timber sales in federal forests.
Congress last year authorized the U.S. Forest Service to contract with state agencies to perform certain jobs on federal lands. Michigan's agreement covers the Hiawatha, Ottawa and Huron-Manistee National Forests.
The Forest Service has been forced in recent years to devote increasing time and money to fighting huge wildfires.
Bill O'Neill of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says staffers with the state Forest Resources Division already oversee timber sales on state land and can easily assist the federal agency.
The Forest Service will use money from the timber sales to pay the DNR for its services and do work in the national forests such as improving wildlife habitat and stabilizing stream banks.
