However, if constructing a temporary road is the only viable means to restore healthy forest conditions, the League feels that the agency should do so. Also, access to these temporary roads should be restricted for land management activities in order to minimize any potential resistance to eventual road closure. 294.13 Consideration of roadless area conservation during forest plan revision The League supports the requirement to evaluate the enumerated roadless characteristics outlined in the proposed rule during the forest plan revision process. Furthermore, we strongly support the guidance that distance from and scarcity of other unroaded areas is an important consideration in selecting areas smaller than 5,000 acres for protection, especially in eastern national forests. Conversely, we consider it axiomatic that hunting, fishing and other non-motorized outdoor recreational pursuits are legitimate and appropriate uses of roadless and other unroaded areas with the National Forest System.
Local input is important to sound decision making and public acceptance.
However, we caution that it should not be the determinative factor, especially when it fundamentally conflicts with sound stewardship of fish and wildlife habitat and other roadless area characteristics. Although timber harvest for stewardship purpose should certainly be permissible, we see no compelling reason to accommodate commercial timber harvest in these areas. Consequently, the League urges the Forest Service to modify the proposed rule to accommodate the additional prohibition on commercial timber harvest. Although we strongly concur with the prohibition on permanent road construction to accommodate timber harvest for stewardship purposes, we feel that in certain limited situations, where logging by helicopter, cable or forwarder is not practical, construction of temporary roads should be permitted to facilitate active management. We disagree and feel that the agency should establish national guidelines to assist local Forest Service officials make sound management decisions regarding when and where use of OHV should be permitted.