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Citizens speak out on roadless plan
By Suzanne Jacobson
Staff writer, Coeur d'Alene Press Newspaper
January 23, 2008
Ninety-day public comment process ends on April 7
COEUR d'ALENE -- Deciding uses for roadless areas in Idaho is always controversial, government officials acknowledged at the public meeting to discuss Idaho's proposed roadless plan Wednesday.
Those areas are, after all, the "gems of the Gem State," as Tom Schwarz from the Idaho Conservation League said. The proposed Idaho Roadless Rule divides Idaho's 9.3 million roadless acres into five different categories.
The three most protective -- Wild Land, areas of Historic and Tribal Significance, and Primitive -- disallow any new road construction.
The largest category -- Backcountry -- allows seven instances where roads are permissible to construct in its 5.2 million acres.
The least restrictive category is General Forest, and comprises 609,500 acres mostly in southern Idaho.
The 2001 Clinton-era rule now in effect prohibits road construction in any of the 9.3 million acres. That 2001 rule is often touted as a "one-size-fits-all method," said Brad Gilbert, the Idaho Roadless Rule team leader.
He noted that the proposed rule doesn't affect existing roads or access. New rules regarding those areas are under the jurisdiction of travel management plans now being developed.
"This roadless plan is a great thing for the state of Idaho," said Serena Carlson, a communications program manager for Intermountain Forest Association. Before she started to speak, she said, "If anyone brought any rotten fruit tonight, now is the time to get it out because I'm here on behalf of the timber industry."
She noted that effective management of timber reduces the risk of wildfire, a threat facing many rural communities.
Coeur d'Alene resident Bob Spray called the plan "mismanagement."
"What you are doing is you're locking us out," he said.
Other members of the public did not agree.
Many of the forest roads Idaho already has are disintegrating into rivers, said Mike Petersen, the executive director of Spokane-based Lands Council.
"We hope no more roads will be built," he added. "Idaho is about the wildest state in the nation ... (People) come here for that wildness."
Attendee Kitty Klitzke spoke out against watered-down language -- from "imminent threat" to "significant threat" -- that makes it easier to build roads. The change in language, officials said, was to guarantee greater flexibility in mitigating risks.
"Red lights and sirens -- that's what imminent threat means," said Tom Perry, legal counsel for the governor's office. Significant risk includes health and safety risks, loss of life or property, and forest health activity -- including maintaining watersheds or reducing the risk of wildfire.
A 90-day public comment process ends on April 7. Comments must be received in writing and can be sent to IDcomments@fsroadless.org.
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