The site in question was on the east side of Gauley Mountain north of Marlington, one of the prettiest areas of the state. To its credit the U.S. Forest Service listened to citizens voicing concerns about the size of the cut and damage to steams and wildlife. Differences remained and a lawsuit was filed to alter the proposal. A settlement agreement was reached which reduced the size of the cut by about one-fifth and adopted arrangements to monitor and protect streams and wildlife. There are more miles of roads in national forests than are contained in the interstate highway system, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Roads can cause landslides, erosion, and siltation of streams.
Fortunately, the Service has taken a significant step in precluding roads in wilderness portions of our national forests with its roadless policy. I t is the first time public land has been protected for being ecologically intact . Thr Roadless Initiative began in January 1998, was proposed as permanent in October 1999 by President Clinton, and in November 2000 the Forest Service made its final Environmental Impact Statement. In the early Bush II administration the rule was allowed to take effect. Environmental watchdogs no doubt will monitor the exception to the rule.