“We
applaud U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) for joining Congressmen Inslee
(D-WA) and Ramstad (R-MN) and a bipartisan group of 141 original
cosponsors to reintroduce the National Forest Roadless Area
Conservation Act to protect 58.5 million acres of national forest lands
from most logging and road-building. At the same time, Senators Maria
Cantwell (D-WA) and John Warner (R-VA) lead a group of 18 Senators in
introducing a companion bill in the Senate.
“The
bill will codify the widely popular Roadless Area Conservation Rule
which was finalized after years of scientific study, more than 600
public hearings, and more than 2.2 million public comments in support
of protecting America’s
last wild forests. This outpouring of public support added up to be the
most comments ever received during a federal rulemaking process.
“The
roadless rule is a balanced policy that protects the last third of our
national forests while allowing new road construction in order to fight
fires, ensure public safety, and allow brush clearing to protect forest
health. The roadless rule ensures that our national forests will
continue to provide clean drinking water, habitat for wildlife, and
endless opportunities for recreation and solitude.
“The
Bush administration continues to attack the roadless rule on multiple
fronts. In the courts, they filed an appeal with the 9th
Circuit to overturn a decision that reinstated the 2001 Roadless Rule
as the law of the land. In the states, the administration has
prioritized processing petitions that will remove the protections of
the 2001 Roadless Rule from millions of acres of national forests. It
appears that the only thing the administration is worried about
protecting is the profits of the timber industry.
“The
Bush administration should start protecting our last wild forests
instead of the profits of the timber industry. They should follow the
lead of Representatives XX and YY by enforcing the 2001 Roadless Area
Conservation Rule, until Congress makes those protections permanent in
a law.
“With Memorial Day upon us and the summer right around the corner, let’s make sure that families in Colorado
and across the country have the opportunity to enjoy the splendor of
our national forests now and for years to come. That opportunity will
be lost if we don’t act now to protect these precious public lands.”
