NC’s National Forests May Remain Roadless
Friday, June 30th, 2006
By Chris Fitzsimon
Department Of Ag Accepts Petitions
By Scott Nicholson
North Carolina’s national forests have a good chance of remaining “roadless” under petitions from three states approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The petitions were drafted this spring by the governors of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, and were reviewed by an advisory committee that is looking at possible changes to the roadless status of national forests nationwide. The protections were put in place by the Clinton Administration and the Bush Administration set up a review of those rules. N.C. Gov. Mike Easley came out strongly in support of extending the protection, drafting a 13-page petition in March.
Easley’s letter to the committee said, “This new rule would impose a vague new beauracratic process on the management of North Carolina’s 1.23 million acres of national forest land without providing commensurate benefits.”
Regional conservation groups hailed the acceptance of the petitions as a step to solidify permanent protection of national forests from further road development. “This is encouraging,” said Matt Wasson, conservation director for Boone-based Appalachian Voices. “It’s encouraging that the governors of these states are at the forefront in valuing our natural resources.” (more…)
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