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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 11:52 AM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Heritage Forests Campaign Ken Rait of Heritage Forests Campaign, 202-861-2242 |
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| Heritage Forests Campaign Says Administration Roadless Area Policy Off Track; Declares 'Internet Day of Action' | ||||
| WASHINGTON
- February 11 - Debate over the fate of America's unprotected forest wilderness begins today
as the Forest Service implements a long-awaited 18-month moratorium on
building new roads into roadless areas of some National Forests.
Conservationists caution that the interim moratorium is a placeholder for a final roadless area policy that is currently off-track. The Heritage Forests Campaign has declared a national "Internet Day of Action" for Friday, Feb. 12, to register disapproval of the current direction of the final policy. It is shaping up as a road-building policy, not a roadless policy to protect this last scenic wilderness. The public can send electronic postcards to Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck and Vice President Al Gore from www.ourforests.org. According to Ken Rait, director of the Heritage Forests Campaign: "With the final policy looking now like the Titanic on its maiden voyage, the fate of our scenic, unprotected forest wilderness looks bleak. A road-building policy is not the policy to protect scenic wild forests based on science that President Clinton called for and that the public supports. "Unless the administration shifts course, listens to the public, and follows their own words, this policy-making initiative will be a dismal failure. "Protection of America's Heritage Forests is the stuff legacies are made of -- Clinton and Gore must seize this historic opportunity and deliver on their promise." The temporary road-building moratorium fails to prohibit logging, mining, and other destructive activities. It exempts vast tracts in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, and wilderness of 1,000 to 5,000 acres, like much in the East. Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck said last week that the final policy will "develop new analytical tools to help managers determine where, when or if to build new roads." Conservationists say this falls short. The Heritage Forests Campaign responded to Dombeck that the final
policy's scope must be expanded to reflect the President's promise to protect remaining National Forest roadless areas. -0- |
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