=46riends- This is a conservation issue, as well as a political one. I did want to forward it just to keep people appraised and offer them the option of voicing their opinions. I have not included mine.
Randy Frederickson MOU conservation committee > >> [Original Message] >> From: Alaska Rainforest Campaign <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Date: 7/15/2003 11:28:46 AM >> Subject: ACTION NEEDED TO HELP PROTECT AMERICA'S RAINFOREST >> >> >> BATTLE TO PROTECT AMERICA=EDS RAINFOREST HEATS UP ON TWO FRONTS >> >> FROM THE WHITE HOUSE =F1 >> Today the Bush administration bowed to corporate special interests and >moved to strip America's Rainforest from the landmark Roadless Rule. A >public comment period is open through August 14, 2003. >> >> ON CAPITOL HILL =F1 >> The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote, as early as tomorrow, >on a Roadless Amendment to keep the Roadless Rule intact! >> >> TAKE ACTION: >> >> 1. Tell the Bush Administration you oppose their plans to exempt the >Tongass and Chugach National Forests in Alaska from the Roadless Rule. Send >an email today online: www.akrain.org! (Information about alternative ways >to comment is included at the bottom of this alert.) >> >> 2. Call (1-800-839-5276 or 202-224-3121) your U.S. Representative and ask >them to vote YES on the Roadless Rule Amendment to protect America=EDs >rainforest in Alaska! >> >> >> THE ISSUE: >> Today, the Bush administration took the first procedural swipe at the >landmark Roadless Area Conservation Rule by proposing to strip protections >from America=EDs rainforest in Alaska =F1 fully one-quarter of the lands >protected by the Rule. The official notice appeared in the Federal Register >and kicks off two, simultaneous 30-day public comment periods on the >administration=EDs proposed exemptions of the Tongass and Chugach National >Forests in Alaska from the Roadless Rule. >> >> The Rainforest comment periods are the first opportunity the public has >to officially comment on the Bush administration's attempts to gut the >Roadless Rule. The administration is also expected, later this year, to >propose to allow state governors to apply for exemptions from the Roadless >Rule in their states. During development of the Rule, 2.2 million public >comments were received in favor of enacting the conservation policy. More >Americans took part in this rulemaking process than in any other federal >rulemaking in history. Yet despite pledges to uphold the Roadless Rule, the >Bush administration is moving to dismantle it. >> >> In anticipation of the Roadless Rule exemptions, the administration has >already been planning for more industrial-scale logging in the Tongass. It >has already scheduled close to 50 timber sales in roadless areas protected >the Rule. These sales would effectively take the best of what=EDs left in t= he >Tongass. Over 70 percent of the biggest and best trees have already been >clearcut in the Tongass. >> >> In Congress =F1 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives will, as ear= ly >as tomorrow, have the opportunity to vote in support of the popular >Roadless Rule. Leaders in the House are expected to offer an amendment to >the Department of Interior Appropriations Bill that would limit the Bush >administration=EDs ability to undermine the Roadless Rule. >> >> ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO COMMENT ON THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION=EDS PROPOSALS: >> >> Be sure to send copies of your letters to each address listed so that it >will be counted for each of the two simultaneous official comment periods! >> >> EMAIL: >> * [email protected] >> ** [email protected] >> >> MAIL TO: >> * Roadless TNF, Content Analysis Team, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box >22810, Salt Lake City, UT 84122 >> ** Roadless ANPR, USFS Content Analysis Team, P.O. Box 22777, Salt Lake >City, UT 84122 >> >> FAX: >> * (801) 880-2808 >> ** (801) 880-3311 >> >> *Addresses for comments on the proposed temporary regulation of the >Tongass National Forest from the Roadless Rule >> **Addresses for comments on the advanced notice of public rulemaking >proposing to permanently exempt the Tongass from the Roadless Rule and >extend the exemption to include the Chugach National Forest. >> >> >> SAMPLE LETTER: >> Dear Chief Dale Bosworth, >> >> I strongly support the Roadless Area Conservation Rule as it was issued >in January 2001 and oppose the proposed exemptions of the Tongass and >Chugach National Forests, our nation=EDs two largest national forests, from >the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. >> >> The Roadless Rule, a landmark conservation policy, has the overwhelming >support of the American people. Safeguarding our wild forests from road >building, commercial logging, mining and drilling benefits everyone >including those who hunt, fish, hike, camp and recreate on these public >lands. To exempt America=EDs rainforest =F1 one-quarter of our nation=EDs >roadless forests =F1 from protection is unwarranted and unwanted. >> >> Please accept this as my official comment opposing the proposed temporary >exemption of the Tongass National Forest from the Roadless Rule and the >advance notice of proposed rulemaking to make permanent the Tongass >exemption and extend it to the Chugach National Forest (36 CFR Parts 219 >and 294). >> >> Sincerely, >> >> *** >> >> Thank you for taking action! If you have any questions please contact >Laurie Cooper ([email protected]). >> >> If at anytime you wish to unsubscribe please visit >http://www.akrain.org/howtohelp/default.asp where you can easily remove >yourself from the list. >> >> Thanks for your support. >> >> Alaska Rainforest Campaign Staff. >
