GOVERNOR RISCH PROMOTES ROADLESS PLAN TO
NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Governor Jim Risch appeared before the Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee in Washington, D.C. today, presenting his petition for the management of 9.3 million acres of roadless areas in Idaho. Governor Risch is asking the Secretary of Agriculture to move forward on Idaho’s roadless management plan under the Administrative Procedures Act, the federal rulemaking process.

On September 20 Governor Risch unveiled a management plan that placed Idaho’s roadless areas into four different management themes: Wild Land Recreation; Primitive; Backcountry; and General Forest under the Bush Administration’s rule. That process was put on hold when a Northern California Federal District Judge’s ruling the same day set aside the President Bush’s State Petitions process.

“This is an excellent management plan that has the input of over 1,000 Idahoans who use or live near these roadless areas. The themes were developed using the existing national forest plans as a starting point, and those plans were also put together with extensive public input,” Risch told the committee. “This plan is thoughtfully crafted with the themes representing the diversity of land that is found within those areas defined as roadless. It is time to end the controversy on the designation of these lands and manage them with a common sense approach that benefits the land and the public.”

Risch outlined the management themes to the advisory committee, noting that the Wild Land and Primitive categories are more restrictive for road building than allowed under the Clinton Rule. The largest management category, the 5.5 million acre Backcountry theme, allows temporary roads equivalent to what was allowed under the Clinton Rule.

“Idahoans care about how these roadless areas are managed and they care about the health of the forest. These are places where they hunt, fish and hike. They understand the need to maintain the health of these forests to prevent catastrophic wild fires, disease or insect infestation. Reasonable management activity to keep these forests healthy is not something they oppose,” Risch said. “This plan ensures the continued protection and responsible use of Idaho Inventoried Roadless Areas. Rather than a one-size fits all plan that changes with each new administration, we will now have a path forward driven by local input and current uses.”

The Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee was created to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on petitions received from States regarding roadless area management. The Secretary of Agriculture may appoint up to 15 members representing diverse national organizations interested in the conservation and management of the National Forest inventoried roadless areas.

The Advisory Committee will review the petition and provide the Secretary a recommendation within 90 days of the receipt of the request.

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