Untouched national forests lose Clinton-era protections

[NNN0LHI]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002265097_roadless06m.html

The Bush administration yesterday opened the door to logging, mining and other development on 58 million acres of roadless national forests, scrapping Clinton-era protections and ceding Western governors greater control over vast swaths of public lands.

Gov. Christine Gregoire immediately promised to protect much of Washington's untouched national-forest land. But state officials were already questioning the challenge of devising a new management plan covering 2 million acres.

"The governor far prefers the Clinton rule," said Elliot Marks, natural-resources policy adviser to Gregoire, describing the Bush administration's new stance as "process-heavy and pretty burdensome."

The plan now allows governors to submit petitions within 18 months to stop road building on some of the 34.3 million acres where it would now be permitted. Governors also could request that new forest-management plans be written to allow the construction on some of the other 24.2 million acres.

[patricia92243]

1. "Clinton-era protection" We need to start using that phrasea LOT.

[0rganism]

2. Submit petitions? Governors must submit petitions? To WHOM????

"That could make for a better plan and reduce the likelihood of lawsuits that plagued the Clinton-era plan, he (Mark Rey) said."

Yes. Indeed. A better plan if your idea of better is giving the resource extraction companies as much power as they care to take. Oh my.

On the bright side, with 95% of the old growth forest that used to cover this continent already turned into houses, toothpicks, and toilet paper, the last 5% won't seem that tragic. We'll barely notice as the national forests turn into private tree farms and the parklands become amusement parks and Walmarts.

And when the whole world is covered in layers of concrete, asphalt, and pollution, we can lean back, pat each other on the shoulder and say, "Job well done, man." "Yeah, nice going out there." "What's on TV?"

This is our Holy Duty. It is God's will that Adam do this.

[Zorra]

3. I'm sure ELF prefers the Clinton rule also....much less hassle, but

wouldn't it be a better idea to simply let the people in the affected states vote on this issue?

Or is that only a viable idea in a democracy?

[Blue Gardener]

4. How about letting the whole country vote on it?

These are National forests that belong to each and every American. they do not belong to the logging companies.

[llmart]

5. Just the headlines about stuff like this......

are enough to sink me into a deep depression. I'm telling you, if I saw that asswipe in the street I'd spit on him. He continues to ruin our beautiful country in more ways than one. And for all those ignoramuses who voted for these asswipes, they deserve the blame also. Of course, those same ignoramuses that voted for him aren't exactly the kind that value national forest anyway. They value Wal-Mart much more.

I'm glad I'm old enough to remember when we in this country looked up to people who were intelligent and well-read and thinking individuals instead of this Nascar dumbing down of our nation where we mock and ridicule smart people. I'm starting to think we need to test voters before they can be allowed to vote.

[dusty64]

6. Just when

ya thought you couldn't despise them any more.

[blindpig]

7. Nothing is Sacred

One does not have to be "religious" to appreciate the Sanctity of Nature, I believe it is often a hindrance.

These people are the worst sort of barbarians, that which they don't understand they destroy.

[CornField]

8. I heard this on the radio yesterday

I had to pull over because it was difficult to see through my tears. Ignorance is on the march! The Culture of Death continues its purpose.