Daily Press Writer
MONTROSE — Gov. Bill Owens submitted Colorado’s petition for how roadless areas in the state’s national forests should be managed, although the fate of the petition will likely sit with the courts.
|
Advertisement |
“Few things are more important to Coloradans than the responsible stewardship of our National Forests,” Owens wrote in his petition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service.
Colorado’s petition was submitted under a 2005 rule from the Bush Administration that made the states the driving force in determining how the areas should be managed. A California District Court overturned that rule in September, arguing that it gave short shrift to existing law for endangered species and the environment.
The decision reinstated a policy authored in the closing days of the Clinton Administration.
Wyoming and an Oregon logging company have since filed separate actions in response to the California decision.
The recommendations submitted by the governor claim to increase flexibility for road construction and timber management within the roadless areas in comparison to the Clinton roadless rule.
Some of the areas inventoried as roadless contain roads and trails, but are valued for their watersheds, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities.
The areas inventoried by the Forest Service identified tracts larger than 5,000 acres unless they were contiguous to existing wilderness or other roadless areas.
There are 66 inventoried roadless areas in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest, though only three of them sit in Montrose County.
Contact Matt Hildner via e-mail at matth@montrosepress.com
• Be respectful of others, the writer and the subjects in the story.
• Be relevant. Keep your comments on point.
• See the guidelines for TalkAbout. Perhaps your comment is best for that community forum, available from the home page, instead of commenting on a particular story.
Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. Montrose Press is not liable for messages from third parties.
DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in montrosepress.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the Montrose Press. Montrose Press does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized Montrose Press spokespersons.
Thank you for your comments!