WHEREAS, Idaho’s 275 inventoried roadless areas comprise approximately 9.3 million acres in 12 national forests across Idaho; and

WHEREAS, Idaho has more inventoried roadless acres than any other state outside of Alaska; and

WHEREAS, Idaho’s inventoried roadless areas represent habitat for protected species such as gray wolves and several species of anadromous fish; and

WHEREAS, inventoried roadless areas in Idaho provide excellent recreational opportunities for hunters, fishermen and outdoors enthusiasts, as well as a significant source for drinking and irrigation water throughout the Northwest; and

WHEREAS, tribes, industry groups, environmental organizations, local communities, and Idaho counties were invited to participate by providing input during the period prior to drafting the Governor’s petition on management recommendations for inventoried roadless areas; and

WHEREAS, county commissioners led the effort to gather public input and present recommendations from local communities, tribes, industry groups and environmental organizations to the Governor;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES E. RISCH, Governor of the State of Idaho, by the authority vested in me under the Constitution and laws of the State of Idaho do hereby order the following:

1)      The creation of the Governor’s Roadless Rule Task Force (Task Force).

A.         Membership on the Task Force shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor through calendar year 2009 and shall include:

                                                                          i.      Staff from the Office of the Governor and other State agencies or the Idaho Congressional Delegation as determined by the Governor;

                                                                        ii.      No less than three (3) commissioners from Idaho counties with inventoried roadless areas representing a geographical diversity across the State.

B.         The Chair of the Task Force shall be appointed by the Governor from the membership of the Task Force and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

C.        From the membership of the Task Force, the Governor shall appoint a Special Assistant to the Chair to help coordinate the Committee’s efforts with the U.S. Forest Service in drafting the federal rule, serving as a liaison between the Task Force and the U.S. Forest Service, and any other duty as directed by the Governor or Chair. 

2)   The Task Force shall:

A.         Work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service in drafting the roadless rule for Idaho.

B.         Ensure that the spirit and letter of the Governor's petition is achieved in the draft and final federal rule.

C.        Review the proposed rule and coordinate State comments in response to the draft federal rule.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this 21st day of December in the year of our Lord two thousand and six and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-first and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred seventeenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE