More Roadless Info

[Red_Chili]

From Carla Boucher, via Gene King:
########################
From: "Carla Boucher" ccboucher@cox.net

APRIL 4, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Paul Turcke 208-331-1807

RECREATIONAL GROUPS ATTAIN PARTY STATUS IN ROADLESS LAWSUITS

San Francisco, CA - A coalition of access advocacy groups has successfully become parties in the latest round of lawsuits addressing management of Forest Service "Roadless" areas. In an order issued on March 31, 2006, U.S.

Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Laporte partially granted intervention in the cases to the California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, United Four Wheel Drive Associations the American Council of Snowmobile Associations, and the BlueRibbon Coalition. The court granted the recreational groups full party status in any "remedy phase" of the cases, finding that the groups "do claim general interests in the use and enjoyment of roadless areas..." and that "the input of the [groups] could assist the Court in fashioning relief, if any."

"We are pleased with this outcome and the Court's acknowledgement that these organizations have a potential role in this litigation," stated Paul Turcke, the Boise, Idaho, attorney serving as lead counsel for the Recreational Groups. "The tale of 'roadless' rules and litigation has been a tortuous one, and these organizations felt it important to obtain party status lest the future reveal unforeseen developments within or beyond this litigation."

Turcke observed.

The lawsuits at issue were brought by the states of California, Oregon and New Mexico and numerous environmental organizations led by the Wilderness Society. Both consolidated cases are being heard in the U.S. Northern District of California and seek to have the 2005 Bush Administration Roadless Rule declared invalid and to reinstate the 2001 Clinton Administration Roadless Rule. The State of Washington has moved to intervene in the case as a plaintiff, and the State of Montana has filed a "friend of the court" brief supporting the plaintiffs, effectively declaring the support of these states for 2001 Rule. While the 2001 Roadless Rule was challenged in at least ten lawsuits in courts across the country, no party other than the Recreational Groups has moved to obtain intervenor status on the side of the Bush Administration defendants and in support of the Forest Service's 2005 Rule.

Both sides are filing dispositive motions in the case, which are scheduled for oral arguments on July 25, 2006.

A printed copy of this release is available at:

http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/PL/Roadless%20Lawsuit/Roadless%20Lawsuit%

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use of public and private lands, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742.

http://www.sharetrails.org/alertlist/redirect.cfm?ID=239&MID=101&LID=8

http://www.sharetrails.org

United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) is the leading representative for four wheel drive enthusiasts. UFWDA is a group of individuals, clubs, state, regional, provincial and national associations and businesses in the United States and around the world; our members span the globe from the U.S.

and Canada, New Zealand, Australia, England, Japan, South Africa, and Iceland. If you would like more information on how you can be a part of this effort contact United Four Wheel Drive Associations today at 7135 S. PR Royal Springs Dr., Shelbyville, IN 46176, 1-800-448-3932 or visit www.ufwda.org



The American Council of Snowmobile Associations represents the 25 state snowmobile associations across the United States. Learn more about ACSA at http://www.sharetrails.org http://www.snowmobilers.org

The California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc. actively promotes the advancement of vehicle oriented outdoor recreation since 1959. The Association represents over 8,000 members and 160 member clubs representing owners of all makes and models of 4WD vehicles, as well as non-owners who support responsible vehicle oriented recreation. For more on California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc. visit us at http://www.cal4wheel.com/

 

[wesintl]

Here is the High Trails Gene King article

 

[Red_Chili]

Here is an email from Adam Mehlberg of Trail Ridge Runners providing info. Adam is tireless in his involvement on land use issues, and a great asset for the OHV community. He is probably the major reason why Boulder RD is more proactive on managing multiple-use areas instead of just closing them.
######################################
----- Original Message -----
From: "Adam Mehlberg" <3jeeps@frii.com>
Subject: USFS Roadless


All,
The Roadless issue that is going on right now relates to Forest Service lands. Here is the short of it.

In 1973 the FS was to inventory roadless lands, those with the proper characteristics were proposed to Congress for designation. Those lands not designated would be released for multiple use. This was to be a one time thing.

To save typing let me just put in 'Wilderness Advocates and Lawyers'
to explain what happened between 1973 and today.

Now when the FS writes a new forest plan (the latest Arapaho/Roosevelt plan was 1997) it must inventory roadless areas and evaluate them for suitability as wilderness. Those that are suitable are proposed to Congress for wilderness designation. Those that are not suitable are managed based on their prescription in the forest plan with roadless as a consideration. Roadless is not a management prescription, it is an inventory of lands with certain characteristics, mainly no roads.
These lands cross many types of prescriptions like backcountry, general forest, flora and fauna, etc.

Clinton's Roadless Rule banned road construction and re-construction in inventoried roadless areas, but did not eliminate motorized use.
The primary issue was roads. The reason roads are an issue on lands waiting to become wilderness is if they get roads the wilderness designation is hard to push. The Clinton rule forces the roadless areas to be managed as 'almost' wilderness letting them sit in limbo until the Congress finally acts to make them wilderness.

The Bush administration rescinded the Clinton Roadless Rule. This put the roadless areas back under the Forest Plan management direction for some forests, while other forests that had updated plans during the Clinton rule incorporated the "no roads ever" management.

The Bush change also included a process where each state can petition the Department of Agriculture to modify the management prescriptions of each inventoried roadless area in their forests.

That's where we are now, petitioning the state to put the roadless areas back under the management prescriptions of the forest service and forest plans instead of leaving them under the Clinton rule.

For info and where to send letters see...

The Colorado task force page
www.keystone.org/html/roadless_areas_task_force

For FS info on differences in management see...

The Forest Service page
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/misc/roadless/index.shtml

For sample letters...

The Blue Ribbon Coalition page
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/media/index.cfm?story=482


Adam Mehlberg
TRR Secretary