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FEBRUARY 6, 2001

A controversial plan which limits logging and road construction on almost 60 million acres of federal forest land was officially delayed for two months by the Bush administration on Monday.

The US Department of Agriculture and the US Forest Service announced finalization of the the roadless forest initiative on January 4 and like all decisions made during the Clinton administration, it is being held back by President George W. Bush. Since the plan's rules and regulations were already published in the Federal Register, only its effective date can be delayed at this time.

Originally scheduled to become official on March 13, its effective date has been pushed back to May 12. The initiative can be changed if the Department, under recently confirmed Secretary Ann Veneman, submits it to the rule-making process all over again but no decision was made yesterday to do that.

The product of 1.6 million public comments, over 600 public meetings, and consultations with more than 180 tribes nationwide, the plan has been the subject of immense criticism, mostly from Republicans, the Governors of Western states, and the mining, timber, and energy industries. Most say the federal government imposed the plan without their input, although it has been in the works for more than a year.

But a number of tribes have joined the fight as well. Part of a coalition of Idaho counties, snowmobile associations, and forestry companies, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho in January filed suit against the plan, arguing that the initiative violates federal law.

Some Alaska Native corporations with economic development interests in lands affected have also voiced opposition. Sealaska Corporation, representing 16,000 Tlingit, Haida, and Tshimshian Natives in southeastern Alaska, said the initiative should not apply to the Tongass and Chugach National Forests because it is "inappropriate to National policy" and the Sitka Tribe opposed inclusion of the Tongass National Forest.

Other tribes, however, have supported the plan. The Point No Point Treaty Tribes of Washington, which include the Skokomish, the Port Gamble S'Klallam, the Jamestown S'Klallam, and Lower Elwha Klallam Tribes, and the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho were just a few who said the plan would help conserve forest lands while preserving treaty rights.

"The Tribe believes that the protections provided for by this rule would be consistent with the treaty and trust responsibilities of the United States to preserve, protect, and enhance tribal treaty rights and treaty-reserved resources," said the Nez Perce Tribal Council.

Overall, the plan affects 58.5 million acres in 38 states. With several exceptions, including the protection of treaty rights and public safety, the controversial rules prohibit new road construction and timber harvests on lands which are already considered "roadless."

Relevant Links:
Roadless Forest Plan - roadless.fs.fed.us

Related Stories:
Tribe sues over forest plan (Enviro 01/09)
Roadless forest plan draws fire (Enviro 01/08)