The U.S. Forest is collecting public opinion on
President Clinton’s move to protect nearly 60 million acres of the nation’s last
road-less public lands. The initiative could mean protection for 9.4 million acres in
Idaho.
It won’t be easy for valley residents to get their two cents in on
the by the December 20 deadline. They must either travel to a public hearing in Twin Falls
on Monday or write a letter to the U.S. Forest Service.
As usual, the hearings are being held everywhere but here—even in
small towns like Salmon. For some reason, the federal government loves to make Blaine
County’s articulate populace travel long distances over icy roads to be heard. For
some reason, it also loves to hold public hearings at the busiest possible time of
year—the December holiday season.
The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. at the College of Southern
Idaho’s Taylor Administration Building in the Cedar Room.
If Clinton’s initiative is to succeed, it will need vast amounts
of grassroots support. In the West, that will mean overcoming industrial-strength
opposition present in most states’ senators and congressmen. It will mean that a lot
of individual effort will be necessary to counter opposition by corporate interests that
would punch motorized trails into every nook and cranny.
Creating a lasting legacy of wild places is worth the effort. Attend
the hearings, write a letter. Don’t sit quietly by and let the pavers move in without
a fuss.
A package of information regarding the president’s roadless
initiative is available by contacting any Sawtooth National Forest office, LeVere said.
According to the notice of intent, published in the Federal Register on
Oct. 13, the deadline for comments during the initial phase of the process is Dec. 20.
