October 19, 2004
Contact: Arthur Stamoulis
(215) 567-4004 x222

NEW REPORT:
Forest Service Practices Threaten Public Lands
Allegheny National Forest at Risk of Logging, Drilling and Mining

Philadelphia, PA - A systematic effort by the U.S. Forest Service to apply non-wilderness standards to land management and planning has resulted in hundreds of thousands of acres being deliberately eliminated from roadless area inventories, and thus from protection under the Roadless Rule and consideration as wilderness, according to a new report written by Jim Furnish, the former Deputy Chief of the U.S. Forest Service who resigned from the agency in 2002 due to policy differences with the Bush administration. The report warns that forest management problems that have favored logging and other development over conservation at many national forests could impact Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest during its current forest plan revision process.

"As a consequence of Forest Service actions, the entire Eastern half of the United States is witnessing a slowly diminishing amount of pristine land within the national forest system," said Arthur Stamoulis, Field Organizer for the Heritage Forests Campaign. "If this is allowed to occur in Pennsylvania, it would not only reduce recreational opportunities, but could negatively impact the state's supply of clean water."

The Forest Service is legally required by the Eastern Wilderness Areas Act and the National Forest Management Act to inventory roadless areas during the development of forest plans and to evaluate these areas in order to make a wilderness recommendation to Congress. Under the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, these roadless areas are protected from most forms of road construction, logging, and other development. Furnish claims that the Forest Service has deviated from official guidance when developing an inventory of roadless forests and have misinterpreted their mandate developing and evaluating their forest plans.

"In recent years, the Forest Service has flagrantly abused its discretion by misinterpreting the Eastern Wilderness Areas Act and incorrectly applying ad hoc guidelines," Furnish writes in the report, Eastern Roadless Areas Under Threat. "This has resulted in an inconsistent approach [and] raised questions about the agency's credibility and stewardship."

"The Forest Service is putting Pennsylvania's environment at risk by putting the exploitation of public lands ahead of stewardship," said Stamoulis. "The unfortunate trend has been to minimize and reduce roadless areas and wilderness recommendations. The White House has exacerbated the threat by proposing to eliminate National Forest protections currently in place under the Roadless Rule. The Administration's plan eviscerates current forests protections, which could open protected areas up to more logging, mining and drilling."

The Roadless Rule was finalized in January 2001 after years of scientific study, 600 local public hearings and meetings and a record number of public comments. Prior to the current public comment period, the Forest Service received 2.5 million comments in favor of the rule. The Rule protects 58.5 million acres nationwide, including 25,000 acres in the Allegheny National Forest, while allowing temporary road construction in order to fight wildfires, ensure public safety, and protect forest health. The Rule ensures that national forests will continue to provide habitat for fish and wildlife, clean drinking water for millions of Americans, and endless opportunities for recreation. The Administration's proposal to repeal the Roadless Rule is open for comment until November 15.

Mr. Furnish's report is available on the Internet at www.cleanair.org/Furnish.pdf. The report was commissioned by the Heritage Forests Campaign, a coalition of environmentalists and other groups working to strengthen forest protections. Mr. Furnish worked for the Forest Service for 34 years, including serving as Deputy Chief from 1999 to 2001.

###