Press release
from U. S. Forest Service
Kristin Bail, forest supervisor of the U.S. Forest Service National Forests in North Carolina, today announced that the new, environmentally friendly Appalachian Ranger District office in Mars Hill, N.C., will open to the public on Nov. 13. The address of the new facility is 632 Manor Road, Mars Hill, N.C., 28754, located just passed Madison Manor.
“The district office exemplifies the Forest Service’s effort to enhance the agency’s operations by improving the design of newly constructed buildings, and it saves taxpayer dollars over the long term,” said Bail. “This new facility provides Forest Service employees with a healthy work environment, while giving the public a centrally located service center that will serve their needs for decades to come.”
The Forest Service designed the facility to meet standards required by the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. Participation in the voluntary LEED process demonstrates leadership, innovation, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Additional environmentally friendly design elements were included in the building that may achieve gold-level certification. The Forest Service will apply for LEED certification in the coming months.
The existing district office located in Burnsville will close on Nov. 5, 2012. All services will be moved to the new Mars Hill office at that time. The Forest Service plans to sell the office in Burnsville. North Carolina (NC) Forest Service will not be relocating to the new office in Mars Hill, and burn permits will be unavailable at the new location. NC Forest Service can be reached at yancey.ncfs@ncagr.gov.
“The new district office will provide Forest Service employees with the work space they need following the consolidation of two ranger districts within the past decade,” said Appalachian District Ranger Tina Tilley. “It will be difficult, however, to leave Burnsville. The Forest Service has been part of the community for many years.”
The Appalachian Ranger District is part of the Pisgah National Forest. For more information on the Pisgah National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc.
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