A pause in ending the Roadless Rule is a must
With the end of the comment period coming Monday, Sept. 21, a pause in this major decision is needed. A one-month comment period online is not enough. There have been no public hearings.
The proposed rescission of the Roadless Rule, which timbermen say will only affect 18,000 acres of the White Mountaina National Forest is confusing. For one, there is already plenty of areas where roads and timbering is allowed, and also, the Forest Service’s own past research has proven the value of keeping roadless areas. It points out, for example, that more roads increases fire danger, does not lessen it.
Timbermen point to the history of the Forest Service, that we should trust the guidance of the Forest Service down the road, but with “reorganization,” it is closing forest research, cutting research positions and moving the experts away from the areas that they serve. These actions and talk of slicing off parts of the National Parks for condos does not inspire trust.
In a world where we all choose what to read and hear, let’s also observe what the world is showing us: damaging invasive species, disease, degraded watersheds, pollinator loss and economic value of tourism are just a few. Lack of biodiversity is creating a lop-sided world.
Add the voices of local reps. Ask them to call and write the Forest Service: tom.schultz@usda.gov.
Call our congressmen today for this pause. Ask friends to comment at regulations.gov. We Americans value our wilderness.