As the new home of OSPIRG's environmental work, Environment Oregon can be contacted regarding this news release.
States of OR, NM, and CA take Bush administration to court over plan to open roadless wild forests to development
PORTLAND--
Oregon conservationists today applauded the announcement of a court
challenge by the states of Oregon, New Mexico, and California aimed at
overturning the Bush administration’s plan to open America’s last
roadless wild forests to logging and other development. However,
conservationists urged Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski to do more.
“Governor
Kulongoski said he was committed to protecting Oregon’s two million
acres of roadless wild forests from the Bush administration’s plan to
open them to logging and development,” said Regna Merritt, Executive
Director of the Oregon Natural Resources Council. “We applaud the court
challenge, but the Governor shouldn’t put all his eggs in one basket.
He needs follow through and petition the Forest Service to restore
protections for Oregon’s pristine roadless lands.”
The
2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, one of the most popular land
conservation measures in a generation, safeguarded over 58 million
acres of pristine lands in America’s national forests, including two
million acres in Oregon. The Roadless Rule recognized the value of
these lands for clean drinking water, habitat for fish and wildlife,
and the outstanding recreational opportunities they provide for
American families. It protected America’s remaining pristine roadless
forests from logging, mining, and other destructive activities. The
2001 Roadless Rule allowed for temporary roads to be constructed in
order to fight fires, ensure public safety and provide for thinning to
protect forest health.
The
Bush Administration repealed these protections in May of 2005 and
substituted a complex process where Governors must petition the Forest
Service to restore protections for roadless wild forests in their
states. While skeptical of the Bush administration’s intentions, Oregon
conservation groups have long urged Kulongoski to petition the federal
government to protect all two million acres of roadless wild lands in
National Forests in Oregon.
“The
bottom line is that Oregon’s roadless wild forests should be protected
as a legacy for our children and grandchildren,” noted Maureen Kirk,
Executive Director of the Oregon State Public Interest Research Group.
“We welcome the Governor’s court challenge, but he needs to petition
the Forest Service to protect all two million acres that were protected
under the 2001 rule.”
Oregon’s
Governor Ted Kulongoski has strongly opposed the Bush administration
and their efforts to open up wild areas in Oregon’s National Forests to
logging and development. In his 2005 State of the State address,
Kulongoski said:
“The
time has come to stop looking in the rearview mirror - and end the
debate about roadless areas. We thought this debate was over - and it
should be. The Administration’s attempt to repeal the 2001 Roadless
Area Conservation Rule must cease.
Protect roadless areas - do not destroy them!”
The
Governor’s office has suggested that filing a petition to protect
Oregon’s last wild forests would be overly burdensome and expensive.
However, given the 600 public hearings held on the original 2001 rule,
and tens of thousands of comments the Forest Service received from
Oregonians who wanted to see roadless wild areas preserved, the
Governor could simply request the Forest Service go back to their 2001
maps and reinstate the previous safeguards.
“We
need Governor Kulongoski to stand up for Oregon values and protect
these last wild forests,” added Joseph Vaile, Campaign Director with
the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center. “These roadless wild lands
should be preserved for our children and grandchildren, not opened up
to bulldozers, chainsaws, and log trucks.”
“As
a mother and grandmother I am concerned about a safety, being prepared
and follow through,” said Penny Lind, Executive Director of the
conservation group Umpqua Watersheds. “An official petition that also
asks for 100% roadless protection is that level of safety,
preparedness, and follow through that we need.”
The
original 2001 Roadless Rule was approved following years of scientific
study and more than 600 public meetings across the country. During its
consideration, 2.5 million Americans wrote the Federal government in
support of the rule, making it the most popular in American history.
Additional Contacts
Steve Pedery, ONRC, (503) 283-6343 ext. 212
Joseph Vaile, KS-Wild, (541) 488-5789
Penny Lind, Umpqua Watersheds, (541) 672-7065
