As the new home of OSPIRG's environmental work, Environment Oregon can be contacted regarding this news release.
The Bush administration
announced today its repeal of the popular Roadless Area Conservation Rule that
was enacted in January 2001 to protect 58.5 million acres of pristine national
forests from most logging, mining, drilling, and development. Today’s move
strips protection from 1.9 million acres of roadless wild forests in Oregon,
including parts of Mount Hood, the Columbia Gorge, and the McKenzie River Basin.
To restore protections for roadless wild lands in their states, governors must
now petition the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“Repealing these protections
puts Oregon’s last wild forests at risk,” said Jay Ward, Conservation
Director of Oregon Natural Resources Council, “Places on Mt. Hood, in the
Columbia Gorge and the Willamette National Forest are losing protection today.”
The Roadless Rule was among
the most popular and visionary conservation measures in American history. The
original rule drew a record-breaking 4 million public comments supporting protection
for roadless backcountry areas, including over 136,000 from Oregonians. The
rule enjoyed support across party lines and among major Oregon employers such
as Nike, Columbia Sportswear, Adidas and Norm Thompson.
Steve Griffith, an Oregonian
active with Republicans for Environmental Protection and supportive of protections
for National Forests expressed disappointment in today’s announcement,
“The administration has turned its back on Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation
legacy,” he said.
Enacted in January 2001,
the Roadless Rule protected the last third of America’s national forests
that remain undeveloped, while allowing new road construction in order to fight
fires, ensure public safety, and allow brush clearing to protect forest health.
The rule protected 12% of Oregon’s National Forest land.
“These wild forests
are some of Oregon’s best places to hunt for deer and elk, fish for native
trout, hike and camp,” said Mike Beagle of Eagle Point who serves as Chair
of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, “Roadless wild lands, like those here
in the Siskiyou and Rogue River National Forests should be preserved as a legacy
for our children and grandchildren.”
In addition to providing
opportunities for Oregon families to enjoy the outdoors, and a home to bald
eagles, elk, and salmon, Oregon communities also depend on our remaining roadless
wild forests for clean drinking water. The Bush administration has repealed
protection for parts of the Clackamas, Santiam and McKenzie watersheds—drinking
water sources for hundreds of thousands of Oregonians.
“The streams that flow
through these pristine forests provide clean drinking water for Oregon families,
and a home for salmon and steelhead,” said Laura Etherton of Oregon State
Public Interest Research Group, “Now it’s up to Governor Kulongoski
to stand up for Oregon values and restore protections for our last wild forests.”
Jay
Ward, Conservation Director, Oregon Natural Resources Council (ONRC), 503-283-6343x210
Steve Griffith, Republicans for Environmental Protection, 503-294-9203
Tom Wolf, Chair, Trout Unlimited -- Oregon Council, 503-640-2123
Bob Freimark, Senior Policy Analyst, The Wilderness Society, 206-624-6430 ext.228
Susan Ash, Conservation Director, Audubon Society of Portland, 503-292-6855
Rolf Skar, Campaign Coordinator, Siskiyou Project, 541-592-4459
