Governor Petitions Secretary of Agriculture to Adopt New Rule to Streamline Roadless Protection
Governor’s three-part strategy to protect roadless areas in Oregonincludes: federal lawsuit with CA and NM to stop the implementation of 2005 Roadless Rule; petition for streamlined process; and greater state role in federal forest management
(Salem, OR) – As the second phase of Governor Ted Kulongoski’s three-part strategy for protecting the nearly two million roadless acres in Oregon, the Governor yesterday issued a petition to the United States Secretary of Agriculture to adopt a new streamlined process for governors to protect roadless areas within their respective jurisdictions. Such an approach simplifies the process of protecting inventoried roadless areas and will save administrative costs to states and territories as well as for federal agencies.
“As Governor, I have a fundamental obligation to represent the citizens of Oregon and Oregonians submitted more comments per capita than any other state during the development of the 2001 Roadless Rule – the overwhelming majority of which supported the proposed roadless area protections,” Governor Ted Kulongoski said. “The rule I am proposing will maintain those protections – giving the state an appropriate and meaningful role in the management of federal forests in Oregon.”
The Governor’s proposed rule creates an expedited process whereby states and territories can opt to restore the protections of the 2001 Rule for all inventoried roadless areas located within the state or territory. Such an approach simplifies the process of protecting inventoried roadless areas and will save administrative costs to states and federal agencies by creating a one-time request that relies on the assessment, environmental analysis and public comment under the adoption of the 2001 rule.
“I expected the 2005 Roadless Rule to give the governors a meaningful role in the process around protecting federal forests, but the rule adopted was vague, with no standards and no certainty that a governor’s recommendations would be implemented,” Governor Kulongoski said. “The rule I’m proposing will change that and I am encouraged by the support of other states that I expect to join me in this petition.”
In the first step in the Governor’s three-part strategy to protect Oregon’s roadless areas, Governor Kulongoski joined the states of Arizona and California in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service to stop the implementation of the 2005 Roadless Rule. Governor Kulongoski joined the suit because the repeal of the 2001 rule, an action he opposed, and adoption of the latest rule both inappropriately ignored requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.
The third step is to seek “cooperating agency” status with the U.S. Forest Service in developing and implementing national forest management plans for national forests in Oregon. By restoring the protections of the 2001 rule now, the task of planning for the long-term management of these areas can be done without the fear they could be subjected to roadbuilding or other extractive activities at any time.
Click for a copy of the Governor’s petition
Click for information about the lawsuit
Media Contact:
Holly Armstrong, (503) 378-6169
Anna Richter Taylor, (503) 378-6496
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