snowmobilers support fresh approach to creating roadless areas in national forests

The International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association is joining thousands of other American recreation enthusiasts in expressing support for U.S. Department of Agricultural Secretary Ann Veneman's decision to take a thorough new look at the question of roads within national forests.

"Secretary Veneman is taking the steps government should have taken in the first place years ago," says Ed Klim, president of ISMA. "Finally, the U.S. Forest Service will take a thorough inventory of its property to determine exactly where roads already exist."

The inventory, expected to be completed by the end of June, will reduce disagreements over the management of National Forests, Klim believes. It concerns a land mass of 60 million acres of U.S. Forest Service land now being reviewed with local input - an area slightly larger than the states of New York and Pennsylvania combined.

"Only following the inventory will designated areas within U.S. National Forests will be designated as Roadless," Klim said. "Also, any new roads then will be built only upon review of the specific forest and with input from the general public. The approach by Secretary Veneman addresses the concerns of snowmobilers and snowmobile manufacturers that what some people claim are "roadless" areas today really aren't roadless at all."

ISMA agrees that protection of streams and wildlife may dictate that some current roads should be relocated, passing through edges of the affected areas.

"Under the old Clinton-Gore rule, relocating roads would have been extremely difficult, leaving all of us with the unacceptable choice between continued resource damage, or making large areas of the forest totally inaccessible to snowmobilers," Klim said. "This is a practical solution, one that can bring about consensus among those who are truly committed to protection of the national forests. The Bush administration has affirmed the need for a National Roadless Area policy and has acted to prevent years of battling in the courts. It is a sensible solution.

"Snowmobile clubs and associations across the snowbelt will now have an opportunity to work with the U.S. Forest Service managers in their states to establish a fair and open recreation management plan for snowmobilers and other recreationists, who enjoy the family recreation opportunities available in our Forests," Klim added.

In announcing implementation of the rule, effective May 12, 2001, Veneman said that her department will propose responsible amendments in early June that will address important issues raised about the rule, based on the following five principles:

1) Informed decision-making - The rule will be implemented with more reliable information and accurate mapping. This includes drawing on local expertise and experience through the local forest planning process.

2) Working together - the Forest Service will work with states, tribes, local communities and the public through a process that is fair, open, and responsive to local input and information.

3) Protecting forests - The US Forest Service will protect roadless areas from the negative effects of severe wildfire, insect and disease activity.

4) Protecting communities, homes, and property - The US Forest Service will work to protect communities, homes, and property from the risk of severe wildfire and other risks that might exist on adjacent federal lands.

5) Protecting access to property - The US Forest Service will ensure that states, tribes and private citizens who own property within roadless areas have access to their property as required by existing law.

"The actions announced by Secretary Veneman are aimed at protecting the principles of the rule, correcting data errors, and addressing concerns raised by the court, local communities, native American tribes, and state governments," Klim said. "For example, the rule designated more than 2.5 million acres of land as roadless that actually have roads.

"The snowmobile manufacturers are looking forward to working with the Forest Service Managers at the local state and national level," he vowed.