WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson today condemned an initiative President Clinton has been working on to limit public access and activities in America's national forests. The Clinton initiative would set aside more than 40 million acres of the 192 million acre National Forest System, restricting multiple-use and active management activities such as forest roads, recreation, firefighting, and timber management. Emerson stated her objections in a letter last fall to the President, joining other rural lawmakers in criticizing the President's plan. The plan, which is intended to go into effect this winter after a public comment period, calls for immediately restricting or prohibiting road construction as well as other activities in the 40 million acres of our national forests. Up to 37,900 acres of Mark Twain National Forest could be impacted by President Clinton's regulation. The Mark Twain already contains 62,956 wilderness acres. Constituents in the 8th Congressional District will have an opportunity to attend a public comment meeting on: June 24, 2000 Rolla Middle School auditorium 1111 Soest Road 12:00pm-3:00pm. The public comment period ends July 17, 2000. Contact Laura Watts with the Forest Service at (573)364-4621 or by e-mail at ljwatts@fs.fed.us for more information. Information on the roadless rule can be found at http://www.house.gov/htbin/leave_site?ln_url=http://roadless.fs.fed.us/&ln_desc=USDA+Roadless+Proposal+Site Comments can be sent to: USDA Forest Service-CAET Attn: Roadless PO Box 221090 Salt Lake City, UT 84122 or e-mail to: roadlessdeis@fs.fed.us. The draft regulations, released on May 9, 2000, will prohibit road construction in all existing inventoried roadless areas. This includes 3 million acres of roadless areas in high fire risk regions, and 8 million acres in moderate-risk areas throughout the country. "With fires blazing out of control in various areas of the country today, imagine what would happen if basic forest management couldn't take place," said Emerson. "The Forest Service can't even build temporary roads to help save the forest without risk of lawsuits from environmental extremists. This is a reckless and irresponsible regulation. I hope you will let your voices be heard by attending this meeting or sending your comments to the Forest Service. This regulation will effect your use and access to the Mark Twain National Forest, and national forests across the country."