September 20 , 2006 -- Sierra Club
Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director
"Today marks a huge victory for America’s last remaining wild forests and the millions of Americans who have spoken out in support of protecting these special places for future generations. These are increasingly scarce unspoiled places that provide some of the highest quality fish and wildlife habitat, backcountry recreation and clean water supplies in the country.
"Today’s ruling underscores the strong framework of the Roadless Rule, the basis of which was overwhelming scientific and economic evidence and public opinion in favor of protecting America’s last wild forests.
"The Bush administration replaced the original rule with a policy that left wild forests across the country vulnerable to destructive oil and gas development, commercial logging and road building. The administration has already moved forward with timber sales in roadless areas in Alaska, New Hampshire, and Oregon.
"From policies that prioritize logging over community fire protection to proposals that sell-off National Forests, the Bush administration has worked to weaken or eliminate the core protections for America’s wild forests. They have put the interests of the timber industry ahead of the clean water, recreational opportunities, economic benefits and wildlife habitat that these forests provide the country."
Background on Roadless Area Conservation Rule, Today's Decision:
The Roadless Rule, designed to protect 58 million acres of roadless wild forests in 39 states, was the result of the most extensive public comment process in history, spanning three years and 600 public meetings. During the rulemaking, the Clinton administration received a record-breaking one million public comments in support of protecting wild forests. To date, the Forest Service has received more than 4 million comments from the American people.
Blocking the Roadless Rule was one of the new administration’s first decisions upon taking office, followed shortly by refusal to defend the rule in court. In the spring of 2005 the administration officially repealed the original rule and replaced it with a process whereby Governors must petition the federal government for forest protections in their states. Governors had until November of this year to announce their petitions. In the public comment period for the Bush administration policy, the majority of the 1.8 million comments were opposed to the change.
Today's decision reinstates the original Roadless Rule and finds that the Bush administration violated the law when it adopted their petition process. The ruling enjoins the Forest Service from taking any action contrary to the Roadless Rule.
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