Forest Plan Favored At Spokane Hearing Different Reaction To Roadless Areas Expected In Coeur D’Alene

Citizen turnout was lighter than expected Thursday at a public comment meeting on President Clinton’s proposed plan to protect roadless forests.

The Spokane City Council chambers and another room were set up to handle an expected 200 to 300 people during the eight-hour comment period.

“We expected it (council chambers) to be filled at 5:30,” said David O’Brien, spokesman for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. “We’re geared up for lines and lines.”

In the end, 151 people commented, said Diana Baxter, a spokeswoman with the Colville Forest. Seventy-nine people gave verbal testimony, she said, and 72 turned in written comments.

The proposal seeks to protect 43 million acres of national forests by banning roads but not logging, grazing, mining or the use of off-road vehicles.

Most people commenting Thursday endorsed protecting forests but don’t believe the proposal goes far enough, O’Brien said. They want vehicles, logging and all other industry activity banned. Some speakers identified themselves as members of the Sierra Club or The Lands Council.

Although in the minority, opponents did make themselves heard. Mining representatives, loggers and proponents of off-road vehicles spoke against the proposal, O’Brien said. In addition to the lost business, industry officials say the plan will increase the risk of huge wildfires and insect infestation in forests.

The pro-proposal comments were expected in Spokane, O’Brien said. When a hearing is held next week in Coeur d’Alene, O’Brien expects most speakers to oppose the plan.

The proposal would protect about 2 million roadless acres in Washington and 9 million in Idaho. If the proposal is approved, local forest officials will decide how much development occurs within the roadless areas. They will also decide what will happen to unroaded forests that were never inventoried by the Forest Service. Those areas are generally smaller than 5,000 acres.

After giving her comment Thursday, Charis Keller sat in the council chambers waiting to hear what others had to say. Keller has a forestry degree from the University of Washington and endorses all restrictions to protect the forests. She volunteers for The Lands Council and the Washington Environmental Council.

Keller said it was very important that she comment.

“Roads totally compromise the integrity of an area,” she said.

This sidebar appeared with the story:

ROADLESS PLAN

To comment

Two more public comment periods are scheduled:

Monday at Colville Community College from 2 to 10 p.m.

Wednesday at Idaho Panhandle National Forest headquarters in Coeur d’Alene from 4 to 7 p.m.

Written comment will be taken until July 17.

Mail comments to USDA Forest Service-CAET, attn: Roadless proposal, P.O. Box 221090, Salt Lake City, UT 84122

Online: roadless.fs.fed.us.

Fax: 877-703-2494