WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 1999 -- The USDA Forest Service wraps up a series of national public meetings on roadless areas with two sessions Thursday, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Hyatt Arlington, 1325 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va.
"Our goal for these sessions is to hear people's ideas on what we should address in developing a proposal to care for this unique part of their National Forests and Grasslands," said James Furnish, Deputy Chief for the National Forest System (NFS).
The listening sessions are designed for "scoping" -- a legally required process of seeking public comment to help identify the scope of issues to be addressed when a federal agency proposes any action potentially affecting the human environment. The Forest Service is seeking comments on what actions, alternatives, values and impacts should be considered in a proposed rule and draft Environmental Impact Statement for administering more than 50 million acres of NFS lands in its roadless area inventory.
After a brief overview by Furnish, brief comments from members of the public will be heard and recorded during the two sessions. Citizens who want to listen only and submit comments later will receive background information, comment cards, and instructions on where to send comments. Forest Service Associate Chief Hilda Diaz-Sotero will give a short closeout for each session.
The scoping meetings are among 187 held around the country -- 10 national meetings and local meetings hosted by each National Forest and Grassland office. The scoping period ends Dec. 20, 1999.
President Clinton kicked off this process Oct. 13, 1999 by asking the Forest Service to address the roadless area issue. On Oct. 19, 1999, the agency published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for rulemaking on roadless areas.
Based on public comments and extensive analysis, the Forest Service will release a proposed rule and draft EIS (DEIS) in spring, 2000, for further public comment. The DEIS will analyze effects of various alternatives for roadless area management. After another public comment period and further analysis, the Forest Service plans to release a final rule and EIS before the end of 2000.
Citizens who cannot attend the public meeting can send written comments to USDA Forest Service-CAET, Attention: Roadless Areas NOI, P.O. Box 221090, Salt Lake City, UT 84122, e-mail them to mailto:Roadless/wo_caet-slc@fs.fed.usor fax them to 801-517-1021.
A website called roadless.fs.fed.us provides further information on the roadless proposal.
-FS-
Contact: Cindy Chojnacky (703) 605-5135