Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce

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Senator says roadless plan threatens conservation bill

By JOHN HUGHES
Associated Press Writer

July 27, 2000

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Clinton's plan to protect 43 million acres of roadless forests may prevent the passage of a landmark conservation bill, a committee chairman said Wednesday.

Sen. Frank Murkowski of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee said the roadless plan, monument designations and other administration actions are causing much discontent in the West.

That frustration may prompt senators to block passage of Murkowski's land conservation bill, which is backed by the administration, the chairman said.

"The (conservation) bill certainly has a long way to go," Murkowski told a Forest Service official. "Your administration's actions make that way much more difficult."

He said administration actions "could very well drive a stake straight in the heart" of the bill.

Murkowski's comments came during a Wednesday hearing on the roadless initiative held by the energy committee's forests and public land management subcommittee.

Jim Furnish, a Forest Service deputy chief, was the lone witness at the hearing.

A Forest Service spokesman said after the hearing that the agency would like to see a version of Murkowski's bill pass.

"But we think roadless area protection is also an important priority," Chris Wood said. He added that he didn't believe the conservation bill and the forest initiative were linked.

The conservation bill would create a $3 billion-a-year fund for 15 years to finance state and federal land purchases, coastal restoration and state wildlife programs, among other things. The energy committee approved the bill by a 13-7 vote on Tuesday.

The draft roadless plan, proposed by President Clinton in May, would place 43 million acres of roadless forests -- more than one-fifth of all the nation's federal forest land -- off limits to development.

The plan sets broad criteria for logging, grazing and recreational activities, and leaves it up to local foresters to decide whether roads should be banned on parcels of 5,000 acres or less.

Western Republicans stepped up their criticism of the roadless plan Wednesday. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, the subcommittee chairman, said the Forest Service is exhibiting "clinically delusional" behavior in advancing the plan.

Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., complained of the "top-down" approach of the forest plan, and Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said the initiative was lacking common sense.

Despite the criticisms, the policy is moving forward and needs no act of Congress to become law. The final version of the rule is due late this year.

However, western Republicans say the plan could get overturned in the courts.