Congressman thanks Forest Service head for apology for ‘disrespectful’ remarks

WASHINGTON — Ottawa National Forest administrators will defer most road closures included in its current forest management plan until a new plan is developed, Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, said today.

Stupak said local forest officials had made the decision after discussion with the congressman and after receiving input from the public. 

“It’s clear that there is a great deal of confusion in northern Michigan about the potential local impact of these road closures, which were included in Ottawa’s General Management Plan 14 years ago but which were only going to be implemented now,” Stupak said.

“I am especially pleased that Phyllis Green, supervisor of the Ottawa National Forest, has made a decision that allows continued access and has opted to revisit this issue as a new general management plan for the forest is developed,” Stupak said. 

“For now, the ‘closed unless posted open’ policy affecting 61,000 acres in the Ottawa National Forest will not be enforced.”

In addition to Ottawa National Forest plan, two other U.S. Forest Service policies could have an impact on both the Ottawa and Hiawatha National Forests: The Roadless Initiative and the Road Management Policy. Stupak has said he will introduce legislation to block implementation of the plans.

Stupak today also thanked Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck for his reply and apology for remarks which had appeared in the Roadless Area Conservation Draft Environmental Impact Statement or DEIS, the draft plan for The Roadless Initiative.

The remarks were “condescending,” and “disrespectful” in their depiction of the forest industry, Stupak said.

Noting he had grown up in northern Wisconsin’s Chequamegon National Forest, Dombeck said he, like Stupak, had “a great deal of respect and admiration for those who make their living logging and from other forest resources.

“If there is anything in the roadless DEIS that implies otherwise, I apologize and will ensure it is corrected in the final roadless area environmental impact statement,” Dombeck said