They've created a firestorm of unequaled proportions. Sen. Gordon Smith and Rep. Greg Walden, both Oregon Republicans, strongly oppose Clinton's proposal. Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Peter DeFazio, Oregon Democrats, appear wary. DeFazio dismissed the proposal as a political bid to aid Vice President Al Gore's quest for the presidency. I would say that forest policy . . .
Most roadless areas are in the West.
Idaho has the most land at stake, roughly 8 million acres of roadless land that could fall under the new protective measures. In the national forests of Washington and Oregon, Congress has designated about 4. 6 million acres as wilderness areas. Clinton's plan would restrict development on at least 2 million additional acres of Forest Service lands that now are open to limited road development. Forest Service officials have inventoried more than 380 of these roadless areas. Two areas totaling 193,000 acres in Southern Oregon's Siskiyou National Forest that have high concentrations of rare plants.