The efforts of thousands of folks, three state and two federal administrations, and seven glorious years (six or seven comment periods? I lost track a while back) have come to an end. Well, except for litigation, which seems like the dessert to every policy meal worth eating, especially ones where ideology figures in.. as it does in all things Roadless. If fireworks were allowed in Colorado right now, I’d be shooting them!
Here’s the prepublication copy at the Federal Register. It says it will be published tomorrow.
Here’s a story from KOAA, and here’s the TRCP press release.
DENVER (AP) – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has finalized a rule governing how 4.2 million acres of national forest roadless areas in Colorado will be managed.
Colorado started developing a state-specific rule following legal challenges of a 2001 national roadless rule, which the state of Wyoming and others have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review.
The Colorado rule is similar to the national policy, but Vilsack said Monday it provides flexibility to allow for thinning of forests to lessen threats of catastrophic wildfires, ski resort expansion and coal mining in the North Fork area. It includes stronger protections for 1.2 million acres of the 4.2 million acres of roadless national forests in Colorado.
The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership says it’s pleased the final rule includes changes including more protection for cutthroat trout.
Secretary Tom Vilsack has finalized a rule governing how 4.2 million acres of national forest roadless areas in Colorado will be managed.
Colorado started developing a state-specific rule following legal challenges of a 2001 national roadless rule, which the state of Wyoming and others have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review.
The Colorado rule is similar to the national policy, but Vilsack said Monday it provides flexibility to allow for thinning of forests to lessen threats of catastrophic wildfires, ski resort expansion and coal mining in the North Fork area. It includes stronger protections for 1.2 million acres of the 4.2 million acres of roadless national forests in Colorado.
The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership says it’s pleased the final rule includes changes including more protection for cutthroat trout.