Saturday, May 07, 2005
Editorial: From roadless to clueless
From the RoundTable blog
Read the latest entries
No, because the Bush administration is deaf to critics. Despite vigorous opposition from environmental and outdoors groups, the administration went ahead this week with its plan to abandon a Clinton-era ban on roadbuilding on nearly 60 million acres of national forest.
The ban gave the largely untouched federal lands blanket protection from logging and mining. Now, state governors will be able to recommend development of some of the roadless areas. Although the final decision on their status will remain with the U.S. Forest Service, governors who so choose can play a prominent role.
What folly. The national forests are an asset that all Americans hold in trust for future generations. If a governor's interests conflict, surely those of the landowners - the American public - should prevail.
