The delay follows a request for a preliminary injunction on the policy from Boise Cascade, a large lumber company in Idaho. Clinton's order to designate 58.5 million acres of national forest land in 39 states as roadless areas protected from logging, drilling and mining would further harm the industry, they claim. The roadless areas policy came in the wake of 1.7 million public comments and 600 public hearings across the country, for which 23,000 people testified. While conservation groups allow that the White House is entitled to go through another lengthy public process to reverse the rule, they contend that using legal challenges to keep the orders from being implemented is unfair. Although the roadless areas policy was slated to begin on March 13, it has been pushed back until May by the Bush administration.
Conservation groups expect the delay to continue indefinitely.
Bush is showing his true colors that he is nothing but an industry lackey. In only 60 days in office he has backed away from his proposal to reduce global warming pollution from power plants, delayed implementation of the policy which would have protected the last untouched 30 percent of our national forests, and launched a fight to open the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. Recipients should seek permission to reprint the article from the source listed above. Reading on line, downloading or other use of this information signifies acceptance of these conditions, and the Full Disclaimer.