Hearings

FS No Roads Policy
Hearings Scheduled & comment period has been extended

As you may know, the Forest Service yesterday announced that it was extending the comment period for the Road issue. Comments have until March 30. There will also be 24 public meetings about the issue all across the nation coming up on this. The following is the service's press release and the public meeting list.

>>>Forest Service Extends Public Comment Period On Road Construction Proposal, and Announces Public Meetings

WASHINGTON (February 24, 1998) - The USDA Forest Service today announced that the public comment period on a proposed interim regulation to temporarily suspend road construction in National Forest roadless areas has been extended until March 30. The interim road construction suspension is proposed to last for no longer than 18 months or until a long term Transportation Policy is finalized, whichever comes first.

A concurrent proposal, published January 28 with a March 30 public comment deadline, calls for consideration of a major overhaul of the
entire National Forest road system and the development of a long-term Transportation Policy.

The Agency also announced today the location of 25 public "open houses" scheduled nationwide to help people better understand the two Forest Service proposals and assist the public in submitting comments for consideration.

"Public input is vital to the development of a Transportation Policy that meets the needs of the American people for national forest access, while protecting the environment," said Robert Joslin, Deputy Chief of National Forest System lands for the Forest Service. "Forest roads provide many social, economic and environmental values, but they leave a lasting imprint on the landscape. The Forest Service transportation system is also a long-term, high-level financial commitment and we simply cannot afford to maintain all the roads we have."

"In addition, we are currently reviewing the most up-to-date science pertaining to the effects of roads on the environment," said Tom Mills, director of the Pacific Northwest Research Station in Portland. "Our science review will be the foundation for the long-term transportation policy. Once it is complete, the scientific information will be provided to our land managers so they can more effectively collaborate with the public in making future decisions about road management."

The Forest Service road system is extensive. An estimated 373,000 miles of authorized roads and an estimated 60,000 miles of unplanned and unmanaged "ghost roads" traverse the 191 million acre National Forest System. The Forest Service estimates that current funding allows only 40% of the roads to be maintained to the standards they were designed for. The current backlog of unmet maintenance needs exceeds $10 billion.

Additional information on these proposals is available from all Forest Service offices, and is found in the Federal Register on February 27, 1998.

Public Meetings for Interim Roadless Rule and Long-term Transportation Policy Development

Alaska
March 10, 2-7 PM, Ted Ferry Civic Center, 888 Venetia Ave., Ketchikan.
Contact: Dave Arrasmith, 907-228-6304.

March 11, 2-7 PM, Spenard Community Recreation Center, 2020 West 48th
Ave.,
Anchorage. Contact: Anne Jeffery, 907-271-2508.

California
March 21, 9-5 PM, Sacramento Convention Center, 1400 J St., Sacramento.
Contact: Christie Kalkowski, 415-705-1841.

Colorado
March 17, 2-5 PM, 2-8 PM, Grand Junction Hilton, 743 Horizon Drive,
Grand Junction.
Contact: Matt Glasgow, 970-874-6674 .

March 17, 2-7 PM, Rocky Mountain Region Headquarters, USDA Forest
Service,
740 Simms, Golden. Contact: Lynn Young, 303-275-5346.

Georgia
March 26, 5-9 PM, Sheraton Hotel, 1850 Cotillion Dr., Atlanta.
Contact: Angela Coleman, 404-347-7226.

Idaho
March 19, 1-7 PM, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, 3815 Schreiber Way,
Coeur d'Alene. Contact: Brad Gilbert, 208-765-7438.

March 21, 10-3 PM, Boise Center on the Grove, 850 West Front, Boise.
Contact: Brian Harris, 208-373-4106.

Minnesota
March 19, 6-9 PM, Earle Brown Continuing Education Center, University of
Minnesota, St. Paul Campus, 1890 Buford Ave., Rm 280, St. Paul.
Contact: Mary Nordeen, 218-335-8658.

Montana
March 12, 3-8 PM, Helena National Forest, 2880 Skyway Dr., Helena.
Contact: Jerry Adelblue, 406-449-5201, ext 264.

March 14, 10-5 PM, Ruby's Reserve Street Inn, 4`825 N. Reserve St.,
Missoula.
Contact: Barb Beckes, 406-329-3809.

March 23, 6:30-9:30 PM, Libby City Hall, 952 East Spruce St., Libby.
Contact: Joan Dickerson, 406-293-6211.

New Hampshire
March 18, 6-9 PM, New Hampshire Technical College, 11 Institute Dr.,
Concord.
Contact: Colleen Mainville, 603-528-8796.

New Mexico
March 18, 3-7 PM, Holiday Inn Mountain View, 2020 Menaul NE,
Albuquerque.
Contact: Al Koschmann, 505-842-3370.

North Dakota
March 12, 9-3 PM, Expressway Suites, 180 E. Bismarck Expressway,
Bismarck.
Contact: Steve Williams, 701-250-4443.

Oregon
March 16, 10-4 PM, Doubletree Hotel Lloyd Center, 1000 NE Multnomah,
Portland.
Contact" Patty Burel, 503-808-2221.

March 17, 10-4 PM, National Guard Armory, 875 SW Simpson, Bend.
Contact Carrie Sammons, 541-383-5536.

March 18, 10:30-4:30 PM, Reston Hotel, 2300 Crater Lake Hwy, Medford.
Contact Steve Waterman, 541-858-2213.

South Dakota
March 16, 3-8 PM, Pactola District Office, Black Hills National Forest,
803 Soo San Drive, Rapid City. Contact Glen McNitt, 605-673-3104.

Utah
March 21, 10-3 PM, Provo Park Hotel, 101 West, 100 North, Provo.
Contact Lola Murray, 801-342-5137.

Virginia
March 24, 6-9 PM, George Washington/Jefferson National Forest, 5162
Valley Point Parkway, Roanoke, VA. Contact Donna Wilson, 540-265-5100.

Washington
March 17, 10-4 PM, Ramada Inn at Northgate, 2140 N. Northgate Way,
Seattle.
Contact Lorette Ray, 425-744-3571.

March 18, 10-4 PM, Four Seasons Inn, 11 West Grant Road East, Wenatchee.
Contact Paul Hart, 509-662-4314.

Washington, DC
March 19, 2-7 PM, Holiday Inn Capitol, 550 C St SW
Contact: Alan Polk, 202-205-1134.

Wyoming
March 19, 2-7 PM, Parkway Plaza Hotel, 123 West E St., Casper.
Contact Stan Sylva, 307-777-6087.

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Contact: Alan Polk 202/205-1134 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/