Name(Optional):     

Your E-mail address:
 

 Our national forests should be managed in accordance with existing federal laws. It is not fair to the public to perform a nationwide EIS which can overturn decisions made through the established land management process which involves local decisions based on public and agency review. President Clinton’s roadless initiative flies in the face of the forest-by-forest planning process clearly established by the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). The short sixty day comment period for this proposed policy which will affect 37 states and 40 - 60 million acres does not allow sufficient time for the public to comment. The Forest Service has not told the public which lands will be affected by this proposal. Essentially, the Forest Service has asked the public to make uniformed comments on this proposal. Please provide the public with this information and extend the comment deadline 120 days. There is no scientific basis to include roadless areas of the Tongass National Forest or any national forest in the proposal. The needs of wildlife, fish and the non-development sector of the public are fully met by the planning process mandated by NFMA and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Including Alaska’s Tongass and the Chugach National Forests in this proposal violates the "no more" clause of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA, 1980). The NOI (notice of intent) is inconsistent with existing forest plans, especially in light of the latest revisions of the Tongass Land Management Plan (TLMP). The proposal would create de facto wilderness without Congressional action or approval. Please count this as my formal comment on the Roadless Proposal.
Return to main Page