Roadless Settlement Handcuffs Economy
Murkowski encourages state to pursue legal options
May 27, 2011
Friday
(SitNews) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Responding to a federal judge’s decision Tuesday to accept a settlement proposal by the U.S. Forest Service in Organized Village of Kake, et. al. v. USDA which re-imposes the 2001 roadless rule in the Tongass National Forest, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski said in a prepared statement, “The settlement catches the communities in Southeast in a terrible trap. While the agreement provides limited protection for a handful of energy and mineral projects, it excludes dozens of other projects – and hundreds of areas with great potential – that could help lower energy costs and boost the region’s economy."
Murkowski said, “I’m disappointed the court did not approve the state’s request to protect additional projects from potential harm from the roadless rule."
" I understand that the state is seriously evaluating all legal options, including appealing the judge’s decision accepting the settlement and a suit challenging the validity of the roadless rule itself. I strongly encourage the state to pursue both of those options," said Murkowski.
“At the same time, I have co-sponsored legislation with Sen. Barrasso of Wyoming that would remove roadless restrictions from all federal forests in the state of Alaska," said Murkowski.
“The roadless rule was never intended to apply to the Tongass because ANILCA already set logging limits for the forest, as did the Tongass Timber Reform Act,” said Murkowski.
Related:
Court Ends Lawsuit Over Roadless Rule; Final judgment reinstates rule protecting intact forests while allowing hydropower, transmission lines, and mining to proceed – Tuesday the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska entered a final judgment in a case involving intact, roadless areas of the Tongass National Forest. The case was brought by a Native village, tourism businesses, and conservation groups. The judgment reinstates the Roadless Area Conservation Rule in the Tongass. The “roadless rule” blocks expensive and controversial new logging roads and clearcuts in intact forests while allowing other economic development—including hydropower, transmission lines, mining, and tourism projects—to proceed. - More...
Wednesday - May 25, 2011
Source of News:
Office of U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski
www.murkowski.senate.gov
E-mail your news &
photos to editor@sitnews.us
Publish A Letter in SitNews Read Letters/Opinions
Contact the Editor
SitNews ©2011
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska
|
Articles &
photographs that appear in SitNews may be protected by copyright
and may not be reprinted without written permission from and
payment of any required fees to the proper sources.
|
|