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Houston Regional Group - News |
| Bush Stealth Attacks Roadless Areas: Write Now!!! Brandt Mannchen In a back door stealth attack, President Bush has proposed gutting interim protection for roadless areas (RA) under the guise of simplifying rules and increasing administrative flexibility. To help protect RA, your comments in opposition to this ploy are needed by February 19, 2002. The U.S. Forest Service (FS) released two modified interim directives on December 14th that provide guidance for when roads may be built in RA. These two directives weaken RA protection in at least four ways: 1) The directives eliminate the requirement that a road can only be built in a RA if there is a “compelling need” and water down the need for a “roads analysis.” 2) The directives allow additional discretion in determining when an environmental impact statement is needed for road proposals that affect RA. 3) The directives remove protection for small and uninventoried RA (called unroaded areas), that border RA or wilderness, from road projects. 4) The directives weaken protection for old growth forests in RA. The directives will last at least 18 months and provide an incentive to the FS to push road construction in RA and in unroaded areas. Please submit your comments by February 19, 2002 and oppose the new directives for the reasons stated above. When making your comments refer to the Forest Service Manual (FSM), Title 7700, Transportation System, Chapter 7710, Sections 7710.42, 7712.13, 7712.13c, and 7712.15 and FSM, Title 1900, Planning, Chapter 1920, Sections 1925.03, 1925.04a and b. Mention your positive experiences with RA in the National Forests you have visited and why you value these RA. Send your written comments to: USFS CAT, Attention: Road Policy, P. O. Box 221150, Salt Lake City, Utah 84122. Send your email comments to: roads_id@fs.fed.us . Send your fax comments to: USFS CAT, Attention: Road Policy, at 801-517-1021. For more information contact Brandt Mannchen at H713-664-5962 or W713-640-4313 February 2002 |
| Up to Top Last updated: 10/02/2005. Content © 1999-2001 by the Sierra Club. |