CO Roadless Rule: "Not Enough"
Friday, April 15, 2011
DENVER – Colorado could soon become the second state in the nation to have an unique forest management plan. On Thursday, the U.S. Forest Service released a proposed Colorado Roadless Rule. The new policy will set management standards for 4.2 million acres of roadless forestland in the state.
The current proposal gives the highest level of protection to about 13 percent of that land, which is less than the national standard. So, Elise Jones with the Colorado Environmental Coalition would like to see the policy strengthened. She cites benefits even to those who live far from from the roadless areas - by preserving a major source of clean drinking water for the state.
"If we can protect the areas that are the source of our drinking water, keep them pristine, keep them road-free so we don't have sediment eroding into those waterways, we also end up saving a lot of money because we don't have to clean up our drinking water."
Ted Zukoski, an attorney with Earthjustice, agrees that the Colorado rule should meet the federal standard, which means keeping one-third of undeveloped forestland in the state roadless.
"The chief of the Forest Service promised that the Colorado rule would be as protective, or more protective, than the national rule adopted in 2001 – and it fails that test."
The Colorado Roadless Rule would also allow for road development in some areas with coal or gas potential. Jones says she worries about the economic impact on Colorado's multi-billion-dollar outdoor tourism industry.
"A lot of the places people want to visit are the pristine places in our National Forests that have no roads. And so, we don't want to kill our golden goose – we want to take very good care of it."
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a news release that the proposal would both protect the national forests in the state and allow for economic opportunities and jobs. The Forest Service calls the proposal a collaborative effort, and is accepting public comments on it through mid-July. Updates and the comment instructions are online at http://tinyurl.com/3j4gtsf.
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