And some of those supplies could be reached from current leased areas through directional drilling. At the same time, roads and the activities they attend, such as mining and logging, fragment forests, disturb natural habitats and wildlife, threaten local water resources and may increase the chances for devastating fires. The benefit in this case does not warrant the cost. Rather than build new roads, it might be smarter to spend that taxpayer money to stem the decline of the current road system. The rule does not affect hiking or riding trails or even off-road recreation.
Surveys show that most hunters, anglers, hikers and others who use the national forests support it.
Bush administration officials should support it, too. Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on May 4, 2001. Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved.