Contact: Wendy Darwell (202) 225-6335

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2000

WASHINGTON – In a press conference at the U.S. Capitol today, U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and representatives of leading environmental organizations presented more than 500,000 public comments in support of ending all road construction and logging in the remaining roadless areas in our national forests. Hinchey urged the president to issue a final plan that is stronger than the Administration’s current proposal.

“A record number of citizens have participated in the public comment period for the Forest Service’s roadless plan, expressing their overwhelming support for protecting the remaining roadless areas from road and logging,” said Hinchey. “More than half a million ordinary Americans have led an extraordinary effort to convince the Clinton Administration to protect all of our national forests, including the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. I urge the president in the strongest of terms to heed the call of these concerned citizens and issue a final plan that offers complete protection for our precious forest resources.”

Currently, more than half of the Forest Service’s 191 million acres is available for logging, mining, oil and gas, and other kinds of development. These lands already have 383,000 miles of roads, or enough roads to build eight interstate highway systems. Hinchey led a bipartisan effort last year, joined by 165 of his House colleagues, to protect the remaining 60 million acres of wilderness. In response, President Clinton directed the U.S. Forest Service to develop a policy to protect these areas. The Administration issued a draft plan in April that banned new road construction but allowed continued logging in roadless areas. The draft plan also excluded the Tongass National Forest from its provisions. Hinchey criticized the draft proposal as too weak.

"The draft proposal is woefully inadequate,” said Hinchey. “By excluding the Tongass and allowing continued logging in the roadless areas, the president is passing up an historic opportunity to protect our national treasures. Safeguarding these scenic wild areas that provide premier habitat for fish and wildlife, protect the greatest reserves of diverse plant life, and offer our people an abundant supply of clean drinking water and unique opportunities for outdoor recreation has the broad support of the American public.”
 
 

This is an official Web Site of the United States House of Representatives  Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey, U.S. House of Representatives  2431 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone - 202/225-6335