USDA Forest Service - CAET
Attn. Roadless Area Conservation Plan DEIS
PO Box 221090
Salt Lake City, UT 84122
Fax: 877-703-2494
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, timber, and mining. 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 different as Florida and
Alaska. The future of our nation’s forests is too important to be decided without
first addressing the specific 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. 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. While the impact of the Roadless Plan may be
minimal when the total U.S. production is considered, 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. 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 which will destroy the
struggling, small forest products industry that remains.
Please do not finalize 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,
Name:
Address:
City, State, Zip: