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Wednesday, March 21, 2001

Bush Administration Refuses to Support Forest Conservation Policy

Washington, DC - Today, the Bush Administration continued its war on the environment by reaffirming its refusal to support one of the most popular environmental initiatives in decades, potentially paving the way for new logging, mining and drilling to occur on the last unspoiled National Forest lands.

The Administration failed to support the policy (commonly called the Roadless Area Conservation Policy) that protects the last 30 percent of untouched national forest lands in response to a request for a preliminary injunction filed by the state of Idaho seeking to block the policy's implementation. The Idaho-based timber giant Boise Cascade Corporation also is seeking to block the policy in a parallel lawsuit.

" This is just one more example of how the Bush Administration is taking its marching orders from the oil, gas, mining and timber industries that so heavily funded its campaign," said Jane Danowitz, director of the Heritage Forests Campaign. " In this case, the Bush Administration's refusal to support this policy in a court proceeding signals its interest in undermining it."

After the most extensive public rulemaking in history, encompassing more than 600 public hearings and a record-breaking 1.6 million public comments, the U.S. Forest Service issued the forest protection policy in January 2001. It was scheduled for implementation March 13, was put on hold by the White House almost immediately after President George W. Bush took office. The policy protects the last unspoiled National Forests from most logging, mining and drilling, which is already allowed on more than one-half of America's National Forest lands.

Last Friday, the Bush Administration offered to further delay the policy, pending a ruling by the judge on a preliminary injunction motion. However, yesterday the judge denied the Administration's request and ordered the Justice Department to respond specifically to the plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction.

Bush Administration Seeks Further Delay of the Forest Conservation Policy

Washington DCIn the second blow to the environment and concession to industry this week, the Bush Administration said today it will file a notice to suspend one of the most popular environmental initiatives in decades, potentially paving the way for new logging, mining and drilling to occur on the last unspoiled National Forest lands.

Using an obscure and rarely used administrative procedure, the Bush Administration said it will suspend implementation of the policy (the Roadless Area Conservation Policy) that protects the last 30 percent of untouched National Forests lands pending a decision on a preliminary injunction in two lawsuits, one filed by the State of Idaho and the other filed by the Idaho-based timber company, Boise Cascade Corporation.

"Twice this week, the Bush Administration has climbed into bed with industry at the expense of protecting the nation's environment," said Jane Danowitz, Director of the Heritage Forests Campaign. "First they succumbed to pressure from the mining and oil industry by reversing a campaign pledge to reduce harmful carbon emissions, now they've cuddling up to the timber industry, which wants to log the last remaining pristine National Forest lands."

After the most extensive public rulemaking in history, encompassing more than 600 public hearings and a record-breaking 1.6 million public comments, the U.S. Forest Service issued the forest protection policy in January 2001. It was scheduled for implementation March 13, was put on hold by the White House almost immediately after President George W. Bush took office. The policy protects the last unspoiled National Forests from most logging, mining and drilling, which is already allowed on more than one-half of America's National Forest lands.

"The forest policy was the product of a two-year process, which included 600 public meetings and more than a million and a half comments from the public," said Danowitz. "The Bush Administration is buying itself time in this court proceeding to negotiate with the timber industry behind closed doors to undo a very public and popular conservation policy."