WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson condemned an initiative announced by President Clinton yesterday 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. "This announcement by the President is a slap in the face to any American who believes in public access to public lands. The national forests belong to the people of America, not the White House, and I think it is entirely unfair to prevent citizens from enjoying and using what is rightly theirs. If the President has his way, we will lose access to a huge portion of our national forests and ultimately be prohibited from conducting responsible timber management and mining, or recreating, in these areas." Emerson stated her objections in a letter to the President, joining other rural lawmakers in criticizing the President's plan. The plan, which is intended to go into effect in the fall of 2000 after a public comment period, would expand the current 18 month moratorium on forest road construction announced by the President in February of this year. It calls for immediately restricting or prohibiting road construction as well as other activities in the 40 million acres of roadless areas in national forests. "The fact of the matter is that more than 35 million acres in our National Forest System are designated as wilderness areas and are already off limits to most public use. The President's plan would essentially double this number of acres and deal a devastating blow to rural communities and the forest products industry. Furthermore, the President is ignoring the fact that our forests are already managed according to strict environmental guidelines and procedures. I strongly object to this plan which is simply another example of the environmental extremism of this administration." A copy of the letter Emerson sent to the President appears below. NOTE: Representative Emerson's comments are available on the actuality line which can be reached at (202) 226-3692. ##### October 14, 1999 The Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: I am gravely disappointed by your announcement today that you will move to restrict and prohibit multiple-use activities in our national forests. I strongly object to the environmental extremism of the roadless area initiative and I urge you to reconsider. Proceeding with this initiative would be very damaging to rural communities, the forest products industry, the health of our forests, and the rights of the public to access public lands. Mr. President, preventing public access and use of our national forests runs contrary to the purposes of the National Forest System. Your efforts to shut down huge portions of our national forests are an unprecedented reversal of proven multiple-use policy. This policy has ensured that our forests have been managed to achieve all of the environmental, economic, and recreational goals that we have for our forest lands. Responsible and active management has effectively balanced our different forest needs. It has protected our forests from disease and fires, provided for timber management, and made our wonderful natural resources available to sporstmen and recreators. Should your continued prohibition on forest roads and other activities go into effect, the damage to our forests and to those who use the forests would be significant. I hope you will consider the negative impact that your initiative will have on the millions of private citizens, the true owners of our forests, who will be affected by your decision. These stakeholders, whether it is a family visiting a forest or a family-owned forest products business, will be hurt by your plan and deprived of their right to public use and access of public lands. Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, JO ANN EMERSON Member of Congress cc: Honorable Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture