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September 1, 2004
Contact: Arthur Stamoulis
(215) 567-4004 ext. 222
 
Conservationists and
Outdoor Enthusiasts
Criticize National Forest Giveaway
Public Hearing Draws Wide Disapproval of Bush Administration
Plans to Repeal the Roadless Area Conservation Rule
Philadelphia, PA - During a public hearing
this evening at the Academy of Natural Sciences, conservationists
and outdoor enthusiasts voiced their opposition to the Bush
administration's proposal to repeal the Roadless Area Conservation
Rule. The rule protects 58.5 million roadless acres of national
forests from most logging, mining and other forms of development.
The hearing was organized by Clean Air Council and the Heritage
Forests Campaign. Comments collected at the hearing will
be submitted to the U.S. Forest Service as part of their
official public comment period on the proposal, which ends
on September 14.
"Weakening protections for America's
national forests is not wise and is certainly not conservative,"
said Sandy Moser, President of the Pennsylvania Chapter
of REP America (Republicans for Environmental Protection).
"Roadless areas in Allegheny National Forest provide
critical wildlife habitat and are an important source of
clean drinking water in the state. The proposed changes
to the roadless rule are incredibly short-sighted."
"By dismantling the roadless rule,
the administration is breaking its word and completely turning
its back on public opinion," said Arthur Stamoulis,
Field Organizer for the Heritage Forest Campaign. "Clearly
they are out of touch with the American people, who overwhelmingly
support protecting our national forests. We have set an
ambitious goal of one million comments so there can be no
confusion over what the public wants."
In May 2001, Secretary of Agriculture,
Ann Veneman, promised to uphold the Roadless Rule, which
protects 58.5 million acres of national forests, 25,000
of which are in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest.
The rule was developed after years of scientific study and
600 local public hearings, including 3 in Pennsylvania.
To date Americans have supported protecting roadless areas
with 2.5 million public comments in favor of the Roadless
Rule. Over 60,000 Pennsylvanians submitted comments in favor
of the rule when it was being developed.
"This is the biggest giveaway of
public lands to logging and mining special interests in
thirty years," said Stamoulis. "The public deserves
to be heard, but the Forest Service refuses to listen. They
have yet to set a public hearing on these rule changes in
Pennsylvania."
The Bush administration's plan removes
federal protections for roadless areas entirely and lets
governors propose how to manage these areas. The plan essentially
leaves the governance of roadless areas in national forests
to the whims of local politicians. Contrary to the Bush
administration's assertions, protection for all 58.5 million
acres will end the day the new policy goes into effect.
In a written statement read at the hearing,
Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell urged that the roadless
rule by upheld, saying, "It will ensure that future
generations of Pennsylvanians will have the opportunity
to use and enjoy Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest
as past generations have done."
Organizations scheduled to present testimony
at the hearing included Taxpayers for Common Sense, the
Center for the Celebration of Creation, PA Wildlands, Clean
Water Action, Allegheny Defense Project, PennEnvironment
and others.
"Everyone who cares about the future
of our national forests should take the time to write a
letter," said Moser. "The American public needs
to submit comments today to help protect our last pristine
forests for future generations."
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To Comment:
Please visit www.ourforests.org
Or, send a letter directly to the Forest Service at statepetitionroadless@fs.fed.us.
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