The Salt Lake public meeting on the President's Roadless Initiative began slightly after 6:00 PM with a short introduction by Forest Service personnel. Presiding were Chris Pyron, R-4 Deputy Forester and Bernie Weingardt, Wasatch-Cache Supervisor. They were assisted by a friendly, ingratiating gal (I believe she was from Missoula) who facilitated, a gentleman who gave the power-point presentation and a couple of administrative helpers.

Somewhere over 100 people attended, and the FS expressed pleasure at the good turn out. The room size was adequate, and people wandered in and out during the meeting.

The meeting format was a public hearing, with a court recorder present. It was emphasized, however, that people could write their comments, mail them in, or send them in by e-mail. It was stated that additional meetings would be held in each of the National Forests in R-4, but this meeting was doubling for the Wasatch-Cache NF meeting.

The facilitator said that everyone would be given five minutes to speak, and that those signing up to speak (as we signed in) were given a number. These numbers were called at random, and I noted that the helper was indeed shuffling and drawing the slips.

The presentation was brief (about 15 minutes) and covered the basics stated in the Notice of Intent.

The testimony was dominated by greens. There were a few green hats around, and some buttons, but no full-press show of colors. All of the Utah green leadership, large groups and small regional, were present and spoke; some rank and file were there and spoke as well. While the comments were individual, they all had access to or referred to "cheat sheets" that emphasized: thanks to the Prez for taking this bold step, thanks to the FS for the process, doesn't go far enough, mandate wilderness values for all 60 million acres, no roads, logging, grazing, or OHVs, and protection for the Tongass.

Around 7:30 PM, when the second session was due to start, it was apparent that no huge influx of newcomers was materializing. People had just wandered in and had either taken seats or stood. The facilitator asked if anyone wanted to see the presentation, if they had just arrived. No one did. There was a short 10 minute break.

She then said they'd just continue the testimony and run the presentation after testimony was complete if someone wanted it. She also said they'd stay past 9:00 PM to make sure that everyone signed up got to testify. Although people were allotted 5 minutes, few took that long. It was really quite a congenial atmosphere.

Since our perspective was outnumbered, I dusted off my best evangelistic speaking style when my turn came. I acknowledged that I was a minority in an elite group of 2% of recreationists who enjoyed wilderness and wanted to impose wilderness values on another 60 million acres. I ranted on a bit about my motorized recreation values, and that they already had 100 million acres of Wilderness dedicated to their values. I talked about the need for the FS to follow NEPA. I talked about the importance of local planning, and asked if they really wanted planning direction for the Wasatch Cache to be dictated from Washington, DC (the Wasatch Cache is revising their forest plan and meetings are now being held). I noted that everything I'd heard, all of their concerns, could be addressed best at those local meetings.

There were about 6 or so speakers pro-access. The Utah 4WD community had done an excellent job getting folks out at short or no notice. Some who did speak on our side did say that they'd just heard about it that day!! It is quite likely that the greens had considerable notice in advance of the Federal Register announcement last Wednesday. I left shortly after 8 PM with maybe 20 speakers to go; by that time, 22 had spoken. I hope some of the other Utah 4WDers who are on the e-mail list will supplement my report.

Adena Cook