AZ402
Well-known member
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is seeking input on how the public would like to see roadless national forest land in Arizona managed. The input will assist Gov. Janet Napolitano and the Arizona Game and Fish Department in developing Arizona’s petition to the USDA Forest Service requesting specific management requirements for some or all of 1.2 million acres of inventoried roadless areas in six national forests in Arizona.
A series of open houses will be held around the state in July and August to provide the public with more information on roadless areas and the state's petition process. Written comment will be accepted until Aug. 31 and can be submitted by e-mail to [email protected], or by U.S. mail to Arizona Game and Fish Department – WMHB, Attn: Roadless Area Comment, 2221 W. Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023.
Background on roadless area management
The Forest Service originally issued the Roadless Area Conservation Rule in January 2001.
The rule essentially prohibited new road construction, timber harvest and development within 58.5 million acres of inventoried roadless areas on Forest Service lands across the country.
Several states filed lawsuits over the rule, and a federal court issued an injunction in 2003 prohibiting its implementation.
The Forest Service issued a revised rule in 2005 that allows state governors to petition the Secretary of Agriculture with recommendations for specific management of inventoried roadless areas in their state. The states have until November 2006 to complete the petition and submit it for review and approval.
Additional background information regarding inventoried roadless areas can be obtained by visiting the USDA Forest Service’s Web site at www.roadless.fs.fed.us.
Activities permitted by the original Roadless Rule
The original Roadless Rule (and the interim directive in place until states complete their petition processes) conserves roadless values while allowing for current public access and recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, hunting and fishing; management of habitat for more than 1,500 species of fish and wildlife, including threatened, endangered, or sensitive plant and animal species; and protection of clean water from forest headwaters and streams.
The rule also allows construction of temporary roads under specified circumstances, such as to fight forest fires or to implement actions that reduce the risk of wildfire for public safety and resource purposes. The rule doesn’t change state or private landowners' rights to access their land. The management of any existing roads within the inventoried roadless areas will be evaluated during the transportation planning process associated with the future revision of individual forest land management plans.
What do you guys think of this???????
A series of open houses will be held around the state in July and August to provide the public with more information on roadless areas and the state's petition process. Written comment will be accepted until Aug. 31 and can be submitted by e-mail to [email protected], or by U.S. mail to Arizona Game and Fish Department – WMHB, Attn: Roadless Area Comment, 2221 W. Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023.
Background on roadless area management
The Forest Service originally issued the Roadless Area Conservation Rule in January 2001.
The rule essentially prohibited new road construction, timber harvest and development within 58.5 million acres of inventoried roadless areas on Forest Service lands across the country.
Several states filed lawsuits over the rule, and a federal court issued an injunction in 2003 prohibiting its implementation.
The Forest Service issued a revised rule in 2005 that allows state governors to petition the Secretary of Agriculture with recommendations for specific management of inventoried roadless areas in their state. The states have until November 2006 to complete the petition and submit it for review and approval.
Additional background information regarding inventoried roadless areas can be obtained by visiting the USDA Forest Service’s Web site at www.roadless.fs.fed.us.
Activities permitted by the original Roadless Rule
The original Roadless Rule (and the interim directive in place until states complete their petition processes) conserves roadless values while allowing for current public access and recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, hunting and fishing; management of habitat for more than 1,500 species of fish and wildlife, including threatened, endangered, or sensitive plant and animal species; and protection of clean water from forest headwaters and streams.
The rule also allows construction of temporary roads under specified circumstances, such as to fight forest fires or to implement actions that reduce the risk of wildfire for public safety and resource purposes. The rule doesn’t change state or private landowners' rights to access their land. The management of any existing roads within the inventoried roadless areas will be evaluated during the transportation planning process associated with the future revision of individual forest land management plans.
What do you guys think of this???????
