SEACC slams Alaska specific roadless rule initiative

    Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Southeast Alaska Conservation Council opposes the process now underway between the State of Alaska and the U. S. Forest Service to come up with an Alaska specific Roadless Rule.

    Grassroots Attorney Buck Lindekugal outlined SEACC's opposition on Action Line.  "First of all it seems to us unnecessary and a waste of time."  
    He explained that two years ago the state participated in a citizen advisory committee to come up with an alternative for the forest plan that stayed out of roadless areas.  In less than two years, he said they went back and petitioned the Forest Service to reconsider that.  "It makes us wonder why anyone would think you could depend on the state to live up to its word when they flip flop like this on something this substantial and offered no new information to support their claims.  So, its hyperbole masquerading as fact."

    Lindekugal added that there are already exceptions to the Roadless Rule including Federal Aid Highway projects connecting communities, access to mining claims and logging incidental to otherwise permitted activities including utility corridors and hydropower projects.

    And the SEACC official said they will recommend that the current Roadless Rule be made even stronger.

     

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