call and voice your oppisition to the roadless plan...


Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 6:47 AM
Subject: Fwd: Talking points for "NO MORE ROADLESS" Calls--TODAY


> This issue is being pushed by the green advocates to swamp the
> Secretary's phone as a show of support.
>
> I just called, no busy signal and the receptionist just wanted to
> know name, state and whether I and for or against.
>
> Please consider your call. If not today, call next week starting on
Monday.
>
> >
> >
> >To All Grassroots:
> >
> >American Lands announced a "call in" to Ann Veneman for support of the
> >Roadless Rule TOMORROW!
> >
> >Consider calling Secretary Ann Veneman with our message - NO MORE
ROADLESS!!!
> >
> >Use these talking points during your call provided by AF&PA (American
> >Forest & Paper Association)
> >
> >a.. THE NUMBER TO CALL: 1-877-285-0051
> >Forest Service Roads Management Policy Revision
> >
> >The Forest Service published a revised Roads Management Policy in the
> >Federal Register on December 20, 2001. The revised policy is effective
> >immediately, but public comments will be accepted until February 18,
2002.
> >
> >a.. Talking Points:
> >--The forest products industry applauds the efforts of the Forest Service
> >to simplify and clarify the road management policy so that it focuses on
> >the major environmental and financial needs of managing the existing road
> >system.
> >
> >--This revised policy is an important step in the right direction for
> >better inventory, analysis, and management of the roads system on the
> >national forests. It recognizes that there has been a huge shift in road
> >use. According to the Forest Service, timber removal vehicles only amount
> >to about 1% of the total vehicle use now on forest roads. The major use
has
> >become recreation-oriented uses and is concentrated on about 60,000 miles
> >of roads.
> >
> >--The previous policy, adopted on January 12, 2001, was fatally flawed
and
> >entangled with other regulations, making implementation difficult, if not
> >impossible.
> >
> >--The revised policy separates direction for managing the 350,000 miles
of
> >roads on national forests from the direction on land management. Policy
> >direction regarding actions in inventoried roadless areas has been moved
> >from the roads management policy to the land management planning
policies.
> >
> >--Direction regarding "contiguous unroaded areas" has been removed
because
> >the Forest Service managers could not map or define these areas.
> >
> >-The revised policy seeks to allow local level managers to make decisions
> >about road management after the completion of a forest-level road
analysis.
> >
> >-- The revised policy would remove onerous procedural requirements. The
> >requirement to do an environmental impact statement for ALL proposed
> >activities in inventoried roadless areas has been eliminated. The agency
> >will be still be required to follow NEPA requirements and those will
> >determine the level of analysis needed for the decision to be made. The
> >requirement to do an EIS was removed to prevent the unnecessary
expenditure
> >of taxpayer dollars, agency resources, and project delays in
> >instances where minor environmental impacts only are anticipated.
> >
> >Rose Comstock-Correira
> >VP Public Lands & Natural Resources
> >Alliance for America
> ><http://www.allianceforamerica.org>www.allianceforamerica.org
>
>
> --
>
>
> John Stewart
> KF6ZPL
> Webmaster of Tierra del Sol 4 Wheel Drive Club of San Diego -
> http://www.tds4x4.com
> Webmaster of Jeep-L ...The Web Site - http://www.jeep-l.net
> Conservation and Recreational Access Editor - http://www.outdoorwire.com
>



:usa:

The USDA comments phone line was closed in September.

The alternative is a written comment:


USDA
201 14th Independent Southwest
Washington D.C. 20250

Subject: USFS Roadless Rule, Comment & Request

Please acknowledge my continued objection to the Roadless Rule and it's potential for restrictions to public use of the Nation's Forests. I urge you to suspend application of the Roadless Rule until the management guidelines can be reviewed to better reflect the growing needs of public recreation in the Nation's Forests.

I urge you to revise the Roadless Rule to support expanded motorized recreation opportunities in Roadless Areas, through the utilization of existing unclassified roads and trails. Motorized recreation opportunity must be expanded to improve low density (low impact) dispersed recreation, of all forms, in the National Forests.

Please add my name and address to the list of citizens who request updates on all USDA/USFS actions regarding the Roadless Rule.

Sincerely,


name
address
zip

cc:
The Honorable (insert your Congressmen)
The Honorable (insert your Senators)