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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]