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UpdateIdaho to move ahead with roadless plan despite federal court ruling

06:08 PM MDT on Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Associated Press

KTVB

Governor Jim Risch is set to unveil Idaho's proposed changes to the federal government's plan for 9.3 million acres of roadless lands in the state.

BOISE -- A federal court in California has overturned a Bush Administration rule governing America's 58 million acres of roadless areas.

But Governor Jim Risch, who unveiled Idaho's plan for the state's 9.3 million acres of roadless area today, says Idaho will move ahead anyway.

“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 Bush administration in May 2005 passed a rule replacing former President Clinton's mandate to shield roadless areas.

Bush allowed governors to petition to protect roadless areas, nullify land-use plans that stopped development and management, or have the Forest Service create new plans.

“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.

Risch unveiled a management plan that places the roadless areas under four different management themes plus one special area category.

“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.

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Watch Robbie Johnson’s report

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.

The next step in the process 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.

The Roadless Petition, maps and other information can be found on the Governor’s web page at http://gov.idaho.gov/roadless_petition.html