USDA Forest Service
Daniel Boone
National Forest
1700 Bypass Road
Winchester, KY 40391

Phone: 859-745-3100
FAX: 859-744-1568

National forest recommends closing Stanton office

For Immediate Release

Contact: James D. Manner

(606) 784-6428

WINCHESTER, Ky., Jan. 18, 2008 – Forest Supervisor Jerome Perez is recommending a permanent closure of the Stanton office on the Daniel Boone National Forest. Perez forwarded his recommendation this week to the Regional Forester, Charles Myers, in Atlanta. This request comes after months of organizational restructuring on the national forest in an effort to further increase operating efficiency and reduce costs in line with agency-wide initiatives.

“During reorganization in 2005, the Stanton and Morehead districts of the Daniel Boone National Forest were consolidated to form the Cumberland Ranger District,” said Perez. “At that time, a decision was made to retain both office locations, although an assessment indicated a significantly reduced number of visitors to the Stanton office in comparison to Morehead.”

Some of the Forest Service employees that currently work at the Stanton office would be relocated to either the Morehead office or the nearby Gladie Cultural-Environmental Learning Center in the Red River Gorge. While the Stanton office would be closed to the public, the property would continue to serve as an administrative work center for the employees who would remain onsite. Additional uses are being explored for the property.

The Morehead office receives nearly 14,000 visitors per year, while the Stanton office averages approximately 300. The Gladie Center, where most employees would be relocated, receives nearly 35,000 visitors in the seven-month period that it is open to the public.

“By moving staff from Stanton to Gladie, a quality year-round service could be provided to the public at that location,” said Perez.

“In the event that the recommendation to close the Stanton office is approved, the Forest Service will remain committed to serving the Stanton community and visitors to the Red River Gorge.”