Press Release - Governor Risch Announces Roadless Recommendations
Governor Gives Roadless Petition to USDA Undersecretary
BOISE - Governor Jim Risch presented U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey with Idaho's roadless petition at a news conference on Wednesday. The petition outlines the state's plan for management of 9.3 million acres of roadless areas within its 10 national forests.
"This is the culmination of a collaborative process with local communities and users of these lands on how roadless areas should be managed. Over 60 public meetings were held and nearly 1,600 comments were received providing input on how to protect the characteristics of these roadless areas and allowing Idahoans to continue their enjoyment of these lands," said Risch.
The Governor unveiled a management plan that places the roadless areas under four different management themes plus one special area category. The themes were developed using the existing national forest plans as a starting point.
"These themes represent the diversity that is found within the areas defined as roadless. Every effort has been made to preserve the existing uses and activities found in the 275 roadless areas in Idaho. Let me be very clear, nowhere in this petition does it require the Forest Service to build any roads or cut any trees. In those select areas where the management option allows those activities, all environmental reviews required by the National Environmental Policy Act will be followed before any action is taken," Risch said.
The management theme and number of acres under each category are as follows:
Wild Land Recreation 1,433,795 acres
Primitive 1,668,718
Backcountry 5,513,556
General Forest 521,169
Three Special Areas have been created to preserve important tribal and historical sites. Those areas include Pilot Knob in the Nez Perce National Forest, Nemiipuu Historic Trail in the Clearwater National Forest and the Pioneer Area on the Panhandle side of the Mallard-Larkins roadless area.
With the presentation of Idaho's petition to the Secretary of Agriculture the next step will be a review by a national advisory committee. Upon acceptance by the committee the federal rulemaking process will begin to develop a state-specific rule for roadless area management.
Governor Risch also signed two Executive Orders that commit Idaho to assist in the rulemaking process and to help ensure implementation of the new rules.
Executive Order 2006-33 creates the Governor's Roadless Rule Task Force to assist the U.S. Forest Service and Idaho Tribes in drafting the federal rule from the petition.
Executive Order 2006-34 authorizes a Governor's Roadless Rule Implementation Commission. This commission will work to ensure the implementation of the Inventoried Roadless Area Management Rule for Idaho once the rules have been finalized.
Governor Risch also commented on a Northern California Federal District Court Judge's ruling earlier today that set aside the Bush Administration's State Petitions Rule process and reinstated the Clinton Rule. The Clinton Rule had been declared invalid and permanently enjoined by a Wyoming Federal District Judge in 2004.
"We are moving forward today in presenting our recommendations to the federal government on how Idaho wants its roadless areas managed. This latest ruling will be appealed and Idaho will continue its participation in the case and join in that appeal," said Risch.
http://gov.idaho.gov/mediacenter/press/pr2006/prsept06/pr_112.html