Gadsden Times 7/12/2012
Excerpt:   “MONTGOMERY — The U.S. Forest Service soon will bill the Alabama Forestry Commission for unsubstantiated grant spending of $5.12 million that the state forester said isn’t owed.

Thelma J. Strong, the Forest Service’s acting chief financial officer, told state Forester Linda Casey in a June 29 letter that the federal agency soon will bill Alabama.

“The payment terms are on the bill; we have also provided an enclosure stipulating payment options for you to consider,” Strong’s letter said.

The Forest Service said the state will have 60 days to pay in full or agree to a payment plan. The state also may petition for a waiver of part of or all of the debt.

Casey said in an interview on Tuesday the federal action is a result of the U.S. Forest Service’s misunderstanding of Alabama’s grant accounting procedure. “We don’t owe anything,” she said.  …..”

Read entire article at http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20120711/NEWS/120719960?tc=ar