Oppose Roadless Plan Email Letter

Re: Roadless Conservation Plan DEIS Dear U.S. Forest Service: As a concerned citizen, I am writing to have my views included in the official comments for the Forest Service's Roadless Area Conservation Proposed Rule and Draft Environmental Impact Statement. I would like to request a 120-day extension of the public comment period so I will have time to more adequately review the 700-page DEIS. I urge you to issue a final policy that protects my right as an American to enjoy our National Forests for all types of recreation and commercial activity. The current draft of the Roadless Proposal is completely unacceptable and violates existing federal law as well as my right as an owner of our National Forests. President Clinton's Roadless Plan flies in the face of the forest-by-forest planning process clearly established by the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). 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). 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. While it is common knowledge that each National Forest has unique scientific characteristics and needs, this Roadless Plan does not address the individual needs of our National Forests which are located in ecosystems as diverse as Florida and Alaska. The future of our nation's forests is too important to be decided without first addressing the specific scientific needs of each forest. There is cleary no scientific basis to include roadless areas of the Tongass National Forest or any national forest in the proposal. Please do not include the Tongass and Chugach National Forests in the Roadless Plan. Including Alaska's national forests in this proposal violates the "no more" clause of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA, 1980). A prohibition or even a partial prohibition on all logging in roadless areas, especially in the Tongass, would result in additional reductions in the Forest Service's planned timber sale program. Over the past decade U.S. timber production has fallen drastically because of the Forest Service's major cut backs in its timber sale program. During this same time U.S. demand has skyrocketed. Thus more and more lumber and wood products are imported. It is not right for the U.S. to import the vast majority of its timber and wood products from countries who do not practice sound environmental practices. It is important to note that the Forest Service's drastic reductions in its timber sale program over the past decade have already devastated communities surrounding our national forests causing claims that "the impact of the Roadless Plan will be minimal" when the total U.S. production is considered, to be true. If the Tongass is included in this Roadless Proposal, however, 2/3rds of the planned timber harvest in the next five years will be eliminated under this Roadless Plan. This will destroy the struggling, small forest products industry that remains. Please do not continue to rush the finalization of this Roadless Plan without first addressing the important scientific needs of our diverse ecosystems on our National Forests. Also, please produce a cumulative impact study for public comment on the proposed planning regulations; the road management and transportation system rule, the draft GPRA strategic plan and the unified policy for a watershed approach to management. Please do not include the Tongass or Chugach in the final Roadless Plan. Please enter my comments into the official record. Thank you. Sincerely,