GOVERNOR’S ROADLESS PROPOSAL MOVES FORWARD

BOISE – U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Mark Rey notified Governor Jim Risch today that Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has accepted the governor’s petition for federal rulemaking on Idaho’s roadless plan. In late September Risch announced his management plan for 9.3 million acres of roadless areas in the state.

Secretary Johanns accepted the petition 48 hours after the Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee (RACNAC) unanimously recommended Idaho’s plan move forward into rulemaking. Governor Risch appeared before the committee in Washington, D.C. on November 29 and outlined the four management themes for Idaho’s roadless areas.

The Governor said he was pleased to learn that not only had the committee and the Secretary agreed to move forward with his roadless plan, but that the Secretary’s approval came so quickly.

“It is not often that the federal government moves with such speed, but I am very pleased that they have given quick approval to move forward,” said Risch. “This plan was put together with a great deal of input from Idahoans and others who use and live near roadless areas. The management plan is a common sense approach that benefits the land and the public. There is a great diversity of land and the themes I proposed reflect those different needs. I am very pleased that the federal rulemaking process will now begin.”

The federal agency will proceed with the state in developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU will outline the rulemaking process, which includes environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act and public involvement and comments.

Governor Risch has already signed Executive Order 2006-44 that creates the Governor’s Roadless Rule Task Force that will assist the U.S. Forest Service in drafting the federal rule.

The Roadless Petition, maps and other information can be found on the Governor’s web page at http://gov.idaho.gov/roadless_petition.html.

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