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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... 1999
Releases
The press releases posted here have been provided to NewsCenter by the one of the many progressive organizations we have selected to participate. If you would like more information about this press release, you should contact the organization directly. |
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| FEBRUARY
11, 1999 2:36 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: The Wilderness Society Liz Foley, Tel.: (202) 429-2615, Fax: (202) 429-8443 Michael Francis, Tel.: (202) 429-2662, Fax: (202) 429-8443 Mike Anderson, Tel.: (202) 833-2300, Fax: (202) 429-8443 |
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| Halt To Road Construction By Forest Service Moratorium Is On The Right Track -- But it must be strengthened to protect 60 million acres now "up for grabs." | ||||
| WASHINGTON
- February 11 - A U.S. Forest Service moratorium on road construction in National Forests
announced today is on the right track, but in 18 months the policy must provide
permanent protection for 60 million acres of wild, taxpayer-owned forests from
mining, logging and damaging off-road vehicle use, said The Wilderness Society.
The moratorium plan released today calls for an 18-month halt to road construction on most National Forest roadless areas, but it leaves unprotected more than 15 million acres. These acres are exempted by the Forest Service's elimination of coverage for road-free areas of 1,000-5,000 acres, and wholesale exclusion of National Forests in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, Northern California and 11 other National Forests. Today's proposal offers few changes from the interim plan issued a year ago, which was criticized for its exemption of vast tracks of road-free areas. "Chief Dombeck is trying to lead the agency in the right direction-his recent remarks and moves show that, " said William H. Meadows, President of The Wilderness Society. "I assume he knows we need to go farther than just a new roads policy to protect these last remaining roadless areas. Ultimately this policy he's started should lead us to permanent protection of all 60 million acres at stake." America's National Forests cover more than 191 million acres of publicly-owned land in 44 states. Most of these lands are open to logging, mining, motorized recreation and other commercial uses. A mere 18%--areas designated as wilderness by Congress-are protected from new road building. A final 31%, or 60 million acres of National Forests, are still wild and road-free. These undeveloped forests lands "are up for grabs," not permanently protected from road construction and the commercial and motorized recreational uses that customarily follow inlays of new roads. "You've got to realize that a single road will dump silt into a nearby river for over 20 years," explained Meadows. "Roads are the number-one threat to forest health, and without the protection offered today, many of these unspoiled areas will be cut with roads, and logged. But 18 months is not nearly long enough to stave off the threat." Road building in virgin wilderness areas immediately disqualifies them from permanent Federal safeguarding under the National Wilderness Preservation System. Environmental impact reports show roads cause erosion and mudslides that damage streams, fish and water quality, and invite increased off-road vehicle use in pristine forest areas. They are also costly. The Forest Service currently can afford to maintain only 18% of its roads, and faces a $8.5-billion backlog on upkeep. The roads in National Forests are built primarily to facilitate logging programs-which lost $45 million of taxpayers' money in Fiscal Year 1997, the most recent year for which figures are available, according to analyses released by The Wilderness Society this week. Founded in 1935, The Wilderness Society works to protect America's wilderness and to develop a nation-wide network of wild lands through public education, scientific analysis and advocacy. Our goal is to ensure that future generations will enjoy the clean air, water, beauty, wildlife and opportunity for renewal that the pristine forests, rivers, deserts and mountains owned by all Americans provide. ### |
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