FOREST SERVICE ANNOUNCES LOGGING ROAD MORATORIUM

February 12, 1999

Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Jim Lyons and Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck, announced an 18-month moratorium on new road construction in unroaded areas in most national forests on February 11, 1999.

The Forest Service Press Release states the "Forest Service will develop a long-term road policy for the National Forest Transportation System" during the moratorium.

The new policy was published in the February 12, 1999 Federal Register (Volume 64, Number 29){Page 7289 - 7305 } 36 CFR Part 212 Administration of the Forest Development Transportation System: Temporary Suspension of Road Construction and Reconstruction in Unroaded Areas; Interim Rule.

From the Forest Service Feb. 11, 1999 Press Release: "The 18-month rule will affect unroaded areas - portions of the National Forest System that do not contain classified roads. It also affects those areas as listed below:

* All remaining roadless portions of Roadless Area Review and Evaluation II (RARE II) areas and forest plan inventoried areas that lie 1/4-mile or more beyond any classified road.

* A National Forest System area that is more than 1,000 acres unroaded and contiguous to a remaining roadless portion of RARE II areas or Forest Plan inventoried areas.

* All roadless areas identified in the Southern Appalachian Assessment.

* National Forest System lands of 1,000 acres or more unroaded and contiguous to wild segments of the Wild and Scenic River System.

* National Forest System lands of 1,000 acres unroaded and contiguous to other federal roadless areas of 5,000 acres or more.

Areas exempt from this rule include the following:

* National forests with forest plans that have been revised since January 1, 1996 and have completed the appeal process.

* Those forests with revised forest plans that are under administrative appeal or revised during the period of the interim rule.

* Those forests with plan revisions or amendments resulting from multi-federal agency coordination using a science-based, eco-regional assessment.

* Road construction for public safety.

* Those areas where road access is necessary to ensure access by statute, treaty, or reserved to outstanding private right

* Those areas where road access is necessary to save life or property because of flood, fire, or other catastrophic event.

The decision, which goes into effect in 15 days, is the outcome of the Forest Service analysis of the public comments and hearings it received and conducted on a proposal made last year."

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