April 2000

Forest Service Proposes To Protect Roadless Areas

YOUR APPEARANCE AT HEARINGS IN LATE JUNE AND YOUR WRITTEN COMMENTS BY JULY 17 NEEDED TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTION FOR BACKCOUNTRY RECREATION

By Rocky Smith

The U. S. Forest Service has issued a proposed rule that would provide some protection for roadless areas. However, stronger protection is needed to protect important values in these areas, including opportunities for backcountry non-motorized recreation.

Roadless Initiative: Implications For Backcountry Recreation Not Yet Clear

Schedule of Colorado Hearings on the Roadless Initiative

For more information about the Roadless Initiative, see http://roadless.fs.fed.us

Background. For at least the past 30 years, environmentalists and others have fought attempts to enter roadless areas for timber production, mining, oil and gas exploration and production, motorized trails, and ski area expansion. Roadless areas are defined as areas without a developed road that have been officially surveyed and are pristine enough to qualify for wilderness designation. These areas provide sources of clean water, clean air, excellent wildlife habitat, and backcountry non-motorized recreation. There are nearly four million acres of roadless lands in Colorado, and 40 million nationwide.

Recent History. Having fought numerous lengthy and expensive battles over projects proposed for roadless areas, the Forest Service has finally realized what polls clearly show: the overwhelming majority of Americans want to see roadless areas kept in a pristine state. In early 1999, the agency issued a regulation temporarily prohibiting road construction in some roadless areas. Unfortunately, this regulation has many loopholes and exemptions. This moratorium expires on about October 1, 2000, or until it is superceded by a permanent regulation, which ever comes first.

In the fall of 1999, the Forest Service announced its intention to issue a permanent regulation protecting roadless areas, and asked the public what such a regulation should cover. The agency received over 300,000 pieces of correspondence, the large majority of which favored strong protection for roadless areas.

In May of this year, the agency issued a draft regulation and draft environmental impact statement for protecting roadless areas. Under the proposed regulation:

  • road construction in inventoried roadless areas 5000 acres and greater in size would be prohibited, except for access to private land, certain emergencies, and a few other very narrow exceptions.

  • roadless areas on the Tongass National Forest in Alaska would be exempt from this prohibition. The fate of roadless areas would be determined in the 2004 revision of the management plan for this national forest.

  • roadless areas would not be protected from logging (via helicopter or cable yarding systems that don't require roads), mining, oil and gas exploration, ski area expansion (in most cases), or off-road vehicle use, including snowmobiling.

  • uninventoried roadless areas (officially called "unroaded" areas) and all remaining inventoried roadless areas would have to be carefully evaluated during the next revision of the forest management plan on each national forest.

IMPLICATIONS FOR BACKCOUNTRY WINTER RECREATIONISTS

The proposed rule is a positive step. It would apply to every national forest in Colorado, unlike the moratorium. By preventing any road construction into roadless areas, it would probably reduce the rapid pace of expansion of terrain used by snowmobiles, as snowmobilers easily find and use logging and mining roads, even if they are closed to use in the snow-free season by gates or other structures. However, the proposed rule would still not prevent some expansion of snow machine use into these areas, let alone terminate any existing motorized use there. That is why the proposed rule needs to be strengthened. And that is where you come in.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

The Forest Service will conduct a series of public hearings around Colorado to hear what the public thinks of the proposed rule. It is very important that we attend these hearings and testify in support of protecting roadless areas from all damaging activities. See attached hearing schedule for the one nearest you. You will probably be limited to 3 minutes to testify, so be well prepared.

We also need as many individually written letters as possible. Write to:

USDA Forest Service-CAET,
Attention: Roadless Areas Proposed Rule,
P. O. Box 221090,
Salt Lake City, Utah 84122.

e-mail to: roadlessdeis@fs.fed.us
or fax to: 877-703-2494

Your letter must be postmarked by July 17.

Make the following points in your hearing testimony and/or letter:

  • Strongly support the effort to protect roadless areas. Thank the Forest Service for their efforts in this regard so far.

  • Insist, however, that the proposed rule needs to be strengthened by prohibiting the following in roadless areas: logging, mining, oil and gas exploration and production, ski area expansion, and all non-emergency use of motor vehicles. Note that logging is proposed in numerous roadless areas on the Routt National Forest in northern Colorado, and that motorized recreation is occurring in several roadless areas in Colorado.

  • Note that keeping roadless areas in a pristine state will preserve: opportunities for quiet, backcountry recreation; clean water (including drinking water); high-quality wildlife habitat; clean air; and opportunities for education and scientific research.

Please do not pass up this opportunity to help protect roadless areas and their potential for quiet backcountry recreation. For additional information, please call Rocky Smith at Colorado Wild, 303 839-5900.