Attempt to Reinstate Strict Clinton Forest Decree Falls Short
Posted on: Wednesday, 13 July 2005, 09:00 CDT
The 10th U.S. Court of Appeals in Denver on Tuesday dismissed an attept by environmental groups to restore protections established in the waning days of the Clinton administration for roadless areas in national forests.
A rule issued by the Bush administration giving states a say in what areas should remain roadless was adopted by the U.S. Forest Service, and the court concluded the rule makes the contested issues moot.
The Clinton rule put 58.5 million acres of forest off-limits to roads and development. The Bush rule gives the states input in the decision.
In Colorado, the rule affects 4.4 million roadless acres, although almost 1 million currently are protected under various other forest plans.
"It's pretty much what we expected and was no surprise," said James Angell, of the Denver-based group Earthjustice, one of the organizations involved in the appeal of a federal court decision in Wyoming that voided the Clinton plan.
"Now we can turn our attention to the Bush administration rule, which we'll litigate if necessary," Angell said.
Under the Bush rule, the roadless lands may be considered for road construction if needed for logging, mining or other commercial enterprises. Under the plan, Colorado will create a 13-member task force to study the state's public lands.
The task force will make a recommendation to Gov. Bill Owens on whether those lands should remain roadless.
The state has 18 months to offer a petition that the governor will submit to the Forest Service. Negotiations will follow and the final decision will be in the hands of the federal agency.
Dawn Owens, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, said Tuesday that the state is awaiting a $100,000 federal grant to pay for travel, correspondence and other expenses before the governor and members of the legislature pick the task force members.
Dan Jiron, spokesman for the Forest Service, said his agency looks forward to working with state governors on the issue.
Source: Rocky Mountain News
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