BATTLE TO PROTECT AMERICA’S RAINFOREST HEATS UP ON TWO FRONTS
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE –
Today the Bush administration bowed to corporate special interests and
moved to strip America's Rainforest from the landmark Roadless Rule. A
public comment period is open through August 14, 2003.
ON CAPITOL HILL –
The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote, as early as tomorrow,
on a Roadless Amendment to keep the Roadless Rule intact!
TAKE ACTION:
1. Tell the Bush Administration you oppose their plans to exempt the
Tongass and Chugach National Forests in Alaska from the Roadless Rule. Send
an email today online: www.akrain.org! (Information about alternative ways
to comment is included at the bottom of this alert.)
2. Call (1-800-839-5276 or 202-224-3121) your U.S. Representative and ask
them to vote YES on the Roadless Rule Amendment to protect America’s
rainforest in Alaska!
THE ISSUE:
Today, the Bush administration took the first procedural swipe at the
landmark Roadless Area Conservation Rule by proposing to strip protections
from America’s rainforest in Alaska – fully one-quarter of the lands
protected by the Rule. The official notice appeared in the Federal Register
and kicks off two, simultaneous 30-day public comment periods on the
administration’s proposed exemptions of the Tongass and Chugach National
Forests in Alaska from the Roadless Rule.
The Rainforest comment periods are the first opportunity the public has
to officially comment on the Bush administration's attempts to gut the
Roadless Rule. The administration is also expected, later this year, to
propose to allow state governors to apply for exemptions from the Roadless
Rule in their states. During development of the Rule, 2.2 million public
comments were received in favor of enacting the conservation policy. More
Americans took part in this rulemaking process than in any other federal
rulemaking in history. Yet despite pledges to uphold the Roadless Rule, the
Bush administration is moving to dismantle it.
In anticipation of the Roadless Rule exemptions, the administration has
already been planning for more industrial-scale logging in the Tongass. It
has already scheduled close to 50 timber sales in roadless areas protected
the Rule. These sales would effectively take the best of what’s left in the
Tongass. Over 70 percent of the biggest and best trees have already been
clearcut in the Tongass.
In Congress – Members of the U.S. House of Representatives will, as early
as tomorrow, have the opportunity to vote in support of the popular
Roadless Rule. Leaders in the House are expected to offer an amendment to
the Department of Interior Appropriations Bill that would limit the Bush
administration’s ability to undermine the Roadless Rule.
ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO COMMENT ON THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S PROPOSALS:
Be sure to send copies of your letters to each address listed so that it
will be counted for each of the two simultaneous official comment periods!
EMAIL:
* [log in to unmask]
** [log in to unmask]
MAIL TO:
* Roadless TNF, Content Analysis Team, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box
22810, Salt Lake City, UT 84122
** Roadless ANPR, USFS Content Analysis Team, P.O. Box 22777, Salt Lake
City, UT 84122
FAX:
* (801) 880-2808
** (801) 880-3311
*Addresses for comments on the proposed temporary regulation of the
Tongass National Forest from the Roadless Rule
**Addresses for comments on the advanced notice of public rulemaking
proposing to permanently exempt the Tongass from the Roadless Rule and
extend the exemption to include the Chugach National Forest.
SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear Chief Dale Bosworth,
I strongly support the Roadless Area Conservation Rule as it was issued
in January 2001 and oppose the proposed exemptions of the Tongass and
Chugach National Forests, our nation’s two largest national forests, from
the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.
The Roadless Rule, a landmark conservation policy, has the overwhelming
support of the American people. Safeguarding our wild forests from road
building, commercial logging, mining and drilling benefits everyone
including those who hunt, fish, hike, camp and recreate on these public
lands. To exempt America’s rainforest – one-quarter of our nation’s
roadless forests – from protection is unwarranted and unwanted.
Please accept this as my official comment opposing the proposed temporary
exemption of the Tongass National Forest from the Roadless Rule and the
advance notice of proposed rulemaking to make permanent the Tongass
exemption and extend it to the Chugach National Forest (36 CFR Parts 219
and 294).
Sincerely,
***
Thank you for taking action! If you have any questions please contact
Laurie Cooper ([log in to unmask]).
If at anytime you wish to unsubscribe please visit
http://www.akrain.org/howtohelp/default.asp where you can easily remove
yourself from the list.
Thanks for your support.
Alaska Rainforest Campaign Staff.
Erin E. Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
[log in to unmask]
www.iowa.sierraclub.org