12:00 PM MST on Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Associated Press

BOISE -- Idaho is among states getting money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help them develop a new management proposal for the state's roadless areas.

KTVB

Idaho is getting $150,000 from the federal government to help develop a new management plan for roadless areas.

The $150,000 comes after the Bush administration in May overturned a Clinton administration rule barring development in roadless areas.

Bush aimed to return some management control to the states.

Governor Dirk Kempthorne says the money will defray county and state costs of developing a plan for how Idaho wants to manage much of the state's 9.3 million acres of roadless forest areas.

Already, 41 counties are involved.

Idaho's roadless petition will identify areas the state believes should be managed as inventoried roadless areas, as well as ways to protect public health and safety, reduce wildfire risks to communities and critical wildlife habitat.