Bad News

TrippinBTM · May 6, 2005

There is only one purpose for roads in the wild forests: access for loggers and miners. This is total bullshit.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_3756626,00.html

Roadless forests open

Environmentalists fear drilling, mining under Bush initiative

By Gary Gerhardt, Rocky Mountain News
May 6, 2005

The Bush administration opened the door Thursday for road building in 58.5 million acres in national forests, including 3.4 million previously protected acres in Colorado.

It would allow pristine forests to open roads for ski area development, logging, mining, oil and gas exploration, and a variety of recreational and commercial uses.

The plan calls for the nation's governors to meet the needs of local communities, some of whom depend on recreation and other forest industries, while protecting and restoring the health and natural beauty of national forests.

State governors would be allowed to petition for specific areas to open or maintain roadless areas based on needs to reduce wildfire risks, conserve wildlife habitat, protect public health and safety, or maintain infrastructures such as dams or water courses.

The states involved have 18 months to come up with a petition that the governors will submit to the Forest Service to open or keep closed areas.

Negotiations will follow, but the final decisions will be in the hands of the Forest Service.

A bill that would create a 13-member task force to make recommendations to the governor on roadless areas appears on the verge of passage in the legislature, said Dan Hopkins, spokesman for Gov. Bill Owens.

"We are about prepared to take public input and start the decision-making process on the forests," Hopkins said.

Not everyone is happy with the decision, however.

"This is a significant step backwards for protecting the environment," said U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo. "States should have a voice in managing natural resources, but I think it's a mistake to take a state-by-state approach for protecting roadless areas.

"Trees, wildlife, and fish don't respect state boundaries, and I don't think decisions about management of roadless areas - or other parts of the national forests - should be based on those lines either," Udall said.

He said that the announcement demonstrates a failure of leadership and an abdication of responsibility and that Congress should act to correct this mistake and maintain needed protections for these areas.

The lands in question were to be protected in perpetuity under a rule made by former President Clinton eight days before he left office.

His decision has been challenged a number of times in court. Rulings are pending in at least five states. It's not clear how the Bush decision will affect that litigation.

The Forest Service already has determined that some roadless areas, including 925,000 acres in Colorado, will be protected, Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey said.

On the other hand, there are some existing mineral leases that grant access to reserves in roadless areas, and that access won't be affected by the process launched Thursday.

"We know that certain groups are going to say the sky is falling, and it's the end of the Earth," Rey said. "But truthfully, it's my guess there never will be roads on most of these areas."

It didn't mollify most environmental groups who started posting their feelings as soon as the rule was announced.

Most fear the rule will open the forests to protracted oil and gas drilling, logging and mining and "put a piece of America's natural heritage at risk for short term industry profits," said Jake Schlesinger, field organizer for Environment Colorado.

"But we will continue to fight to keep 100 percent of Colorado's roadless forests protected," he said.

Bryan Bird, forest program coordinator at Forest Guardians, wrote, "This is a classic example of the Bush administration trashing our democracy and trashing our forests.

"Today, the clean drinking water, wildlife, and recreational opportunities of our wild forests are severely endangered."

Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the Outdoor Industry Association, a national trade association representing the 4,000 manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and service providers, expressed disappointment with the new rule for managing roadless areas.

"We are greatly disappointed that the administration has chosen a plan that could create dozens of individual rules rather than providing strong national guidance on protecting roadless forests," Hugelmeyer said.

"It is not clear from this rule that qualities which make these areas outstanding recreation destinations will be protected."

gerhardtg@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5202
Click to expand...

SamIam · May 6, 2005

I saw that in the NY Times today... very discouraging news indeed it did say that most of the land will continue to be protected... but who knows what that means.

Sam

TrippinBTM · May 7, 2005

the land was hardly protected WITH the anti-road law...

J Michelle · May 7, 2005

Damn bush...he ha failed so many times at oil mining, I wonder when he will give up...

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