The U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region and the State of Colorado will host eight open houses for the public across the state the last two weeks of August as well as a July 29 meeting in the Washington, D.C. area to facilitate understanding of the proposed rule and provide comment opportunities.
“Collaboration among the State of Colorado, local communities, and the U.S. Forest Service has resulted in a proposed roadless rule that provides the most effective way to manage and conserve National Forest System roadless areas in Colorado,” said Colorado Department of Natural Resources Deputy Director Mike King.
The proposed Colorado Roadless Rule would conserve the natural integrity and character of Colorado roadless areas. It prohibits road building and tree cutting except for limited circumstances similar to those under the 2001 Rule as well as specific Colorado exceptions. These include temporary roads needed for fuels treatment to protect communities; roads needed to construct or maintain water and utility infrastructure; and temporary roads for exploration or development of the North Fork coal mining area.
The proposed rule would correct roadless area boundaries based on updated inventories.
“We are asking for public comments on how the rule has balanced national and local interests in the conservation and management of national forest roadless areas in the state of Colorado,” said Rocky Mountain Regional Forester Rick Cables.
The State of Colorado Roadless Area Task Force completed significant public involvement activities in 2006. The proposed rule is built on ideas and concerns raised during that public involvement effort.
The rulemaking process began when then–Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns accepted Colorado´s petition in August 2007 and directed the Forest Service to begin rulemaking with Colorado as a cooperating agency. The Secretary´s decision followed the recommendation of the Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee (RACNAC) to accept the Colorado petition. The RACNAC, which includes diverse representatives from the environmental community, industry, outdoor recreation and state and local government, was formed by the Secretary in 2005 to bring a national perspective to the state–specific petition and rulemaking process.
A notice of intent to prepare an EIS on "Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Colorado" was published in the Federal Register, December 26, 2007 (246, FR 72982).
The process will culminate with release of the final rule, EIS, and record of decision.
Additional Information, Comments or Questions
a. Information on the Colorado Roadless Rule and planned public meetings is available at http://roadless.fs.fed.us/colorado.shtml
b. Specific questions regarding the Roadless Rule or Draft EIS:
c. Citizen Comments:
When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.
Advocating access to public lands carries a responsibility to be part of the solution for managing the public lands. As a strong proponent for participation to make a difference, I am a full time advocate for recreation and the Managing Editor of the OutdoorWire family websites.
4x4Wire.com is dedicated to four wheel drive recreation featuring technical articles and information to promote, protect, and provide outdoor recreation opportunities. 4x4Voice.com focuses on California issues. MUIRNet.net is focused on environmental, administrative and legislative news and information. OutdoorWire.com is Access and Landuse Central with an overall index to the contents of the family of websites.
OutdoorWire, 4x4Wire, JeepWire, TrailTalk, MUIRNet-News, and 4x4Voice are all trademarks and publications of OutdoorWire, Inc. and MUIRNet Consulting. Copyright (c) 1999-2020 OutdoorWire, Inc and MUIRNet Consulting - All Rights Reserved, no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without express written permission. You may link freely to this site, but no further use is allowed without the express written permission of the owner of this material. All corporate trademarks are the property of their respective owners.