Sierra Club News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2001

CONTACTS: Sean Cosgrove, (202) 675-2382,  Joanie Clayburgh, (415) 977-5508

Sierra Club Concerned About Forest Protection  as Forest Service Chief
Steps Down

(Washington, DC) - The Sierra Club expressed concern today, as Forest
Service Chief Mike Dombeck stepped down because of differences with the
Bush Administration over the agency's future. Chief Dombeck was noted for
beginning to turn the Forest Service from one that gave away our forests to
timber and mining interests to one that sought to balance the public's
needs for open space, clean drinking water, and recreation.

This is the second signal the Bush administration has sent recently that it
is acting at the behest of timber and mining industries rather than a
larger public interest. Just last week the Administration signaled it's
intent to not defend the popular wild forest protection plan, officially
known as the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, in court.

"Dombeck's resignation is another bad sign that the Bush Administration
will not protect our forests, but allow them to go to the highest bidder,"
said Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director the Sierra Club. "We
encourage President Bush to listen to those who hunt, fish, hike, and camp
with their families in our National Forests - not just timber and mining
donors intent on destroying public forests for private profit. Logging in
our National Forests wastes taxpayer money and destroys a precious treasure
- to protect America's wild heritage, President Bush should end commercial
logging in our National Forests."

The Sierra Club applauded Chief Dombeck's strong call to action to
President Bush, which included:

* Implement the popular Roadless Area Conservation Rule and not negotiate a
court settlement with timber and other interests who want roads and logging
in our last wild forests.

* Complete an inventory of old-growth forests and ensure their
conservation.

* Increase funding for Wilderness area management.

"We respected Mike Dombeck's attempts change the Forest Service," added
Pope. "He actively sought public input. We wish him well in his next steps.
We are deeply concerned that the administration will reverse the course of
the agency."

The protection of 58.5 million acres of wild, roadless areas in our
National Forests is the most popular conservation policy in the history of
federal rulemaking. The Forest Service received over 1.7 million comments
during the development of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule and 96% of
the comments were in favor of complete and permanent protection for wild
unroaded forests. The policy was developed with the largest public input
process ever, with 600 public hearings around the nation.  ###

Sierra Club
85 Second Street, Second Floor  San Francisco, CA 94105-3441
TEL: [415] 977-5500  FAX: [415] 977-5799 www.sierraclub.org

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