Some of Colorado's most pristine places are at risk. While the federal
2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule protects nearly 60 million acres of
pristine forests throughout the nation, the state of Colorado continues
to move forward with a proposal that would  exempt the state from the
national rule, replacing it with a weaker version that could damage some
of the most beautiful countryside in Colorado.
Currant Creek, high above the North Fork of the Gunnison River, is one of
the places that could be ruined. This distinctly remote and unaltered
landscape spans diverse mid-elevation forest landscape hosting aspen, oak
and serviceberry. This area is essential to elk calving, mule deer
rearing, migration and other seasonal wildlife habitat issues.  
Under the rule Colorado is proposing, Currant Creek would be opened to
coal mining and a network of new roads — all far from any existing coal
portals and transportation networks.
We need to stop this damage to Colorado's forests before it's too late. 
Please ask President Obama to direct the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to
suspend the state of Colorado's effort to approve a weakened roadless
rule and to uphold the 2001 national rule instead.  Sample letter
follows:
I'm writing you today to ask that you direct the U.S. Secretary of
Agriculture to immediately suspend the state of Colorado's effort to
approve a state-based roadless rule that would open up national forests
in Colorado to road building and other destructive activities. Instead,
Colorado's forest should be afforded the same protection as national
forests across the country under the national 2001 rule. 
You have already expressed great support for protecting roadless forests
and we ask that you keep fighting for this worthy cause. Roadless forests
play a critical role in the health of our planet and our communities.
They protect sources of drinking water, serve as home to limitless
recreational opportunities, provide habitat for wildlife, and help defend
us against the impact of global warming.
Please direct the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to suspend the state's
rulemaking efforts and instead support the national rule to protect
Colorado' national forests to the standard they deserve.
P.S. Please also eliminate the Bush-era exemption to roadless protection
for the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. As you know, America's largest
national rain forest is indispensable to salmon fishermen, native
cultures, and local economies.
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