For Immediate Release: July 25, 2002
Contact: Annie Strickler, (202) 675-2384

    Bipartisan Action in Senate Would Protect America's Wild Forests
        Statement of Carl Pope, Executive Director of Sierra Club

"Today the Sierra Club applauds Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and John
Warner (R-VA) for introducing a new bipartisan bill to protect some of
America's last wild forests.  The Roadless Area Conservation Act would
protect 58.5 million acres of our National Forests' last pristine wild
areas.

"Americans deserve this strong bill to protect forests from the Tongass in
Alaska to Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. These increasingly scarce
unspoiled places are crucial for providing quality hunting and fishing, for
protecting watersheds that supply clean drinking water, for offering
magnificent scenery and providing backcountry recreation, for our families,
for our future.

"Since taking office, the Bush administration has whittled away at the core
of wild forest protections, ignoring overwhelming public support. Today's
introduction of the Roadless Area Conservation Act in the Senate, together
with the companion bill in the House, will help ensure that the millions of
Americans who support protecting our forests will be heard. The
administration has voiced support for forest protection while consistently
working to undermine it, planning to move forward with dozens of timber
sales and other destructive projects in wild roadless forests. The Roadless
Area Conservation Act turns forest protection rhetoric into reality.

"The Roadless Area Conservation Act also makes economic sense. Already more
than half of our National Forests have been logged and scarred by 440,000
miles of roads.  With an $8.4 billion maintenance backlog on the current
road system, it makes no sense for the Forest Service to waste taxpayer
funds building new logging roads.

"Last year Americans celebrated when the most extensive public comment
process in history culminated in protections for the last wild areas in our
National Forests. Today we applaud the many Senators and forest advocates
around the country who have maintained steadfast support to bring
protection to these special places.

"Without the protections offered by the Roadless Area Conservation Act, our
last wild forests are at risk of being devastated by logging and other
damaging activities. Right now many destructive logging and oil and gas
drilling projects are threatening wild forests in Alaska's Tongass
Rainforest and the lower 48. These projects destroy wildlife habitat,
imperil plant and animal species, and jeopardize the ability of our
children and grandchildren to enjoy these wild places as we do.

"The Sierra Club urges all Senators to support the Roadless Area
Conservation Act and work to pass this important legislation."

For more information, please go to http://www.sierraclub.org.

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Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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