FEDERATION OF WESTERN OUTDOOR CLUBS

---

SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION TO REINSTATE THE CLINTON ROADLESS RULE

The Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs strongly supported the rule promulgated by the Clinton Administration to preserve 58.5 million acres of roadless lands on the national forests.  No more roads could have been built into these lands.  The Forest Service no longer has the funds to maintain the roads that it already has built, and many of these roadless lands are valuable as habitat.

However, the Bush administration has now repealed this rule, merely allowing governors to petition to reinstate the rule on national forests within their states.  Efforts to defend the Clinton rule in federal courts have now come to an end because the rule has been repealed.

The Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs supports the National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act, H.R. 3503, introduced in Congress by Representatives Sherwood Boehlert (R.-N.Y.) and Jay Inslee (D.-WA), to reinstate the Clinton roadless rule.  It urges the public to call for enactment of this legislation.

next >>