[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 18 (Thursday, February 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E141-E142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF NORTHERN FRONT RANGE ROADLESS AREA PROTECTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 8, 2001

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, Colorado's national forests are 
among the things that make our state a very special place to live. But 
as our population increases, so do the pressures on our forests.
  That is why I strongly supported last month's adoption of new Forest 
Service rules for managing roadless parts of the national forests--
areas that, in the words of the final environmental impact statement on 
the new rules, ``possess social and ecological values and 
characteristics that are becoming scarce in an increasingly developed 
landscape.''
  I think those new rules are both timely and welcome. They make good 
sense as a way to protect natural resources, provide more diverse 
recreational opportunities and preserve some of the undisturbed 
landscapes that are such a special part of Colorado and other Western 
states.
  This week, Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman acted to delay the 
effective date of those new rules, so that they will take full effect 
in May instead of next month. According to the formal notice, the delay 
is intended to give the current Administration an opportunity to give 
the rules further review and consideration.
  I understand why the new Administration would want to review these 
new rules. But I hope that their action in delaying implementation does 
not signal an intent to weaken or abandon this important initiative.

[[Page E142]]

  I am confident that a full and fair review will show that the new 
rules, developed through an extensive public process, reflect the 
highest standards of science-based public policy.
  I also think a fair review will show the rules are needed to protect 
the roadless areas--areas that are valuable for wildlife, support 
ecosystem health and the full range of native species, serve as 
important sources of clean water, and provide a bulwark against the 
spread of invasive species such as many of the weeds that plague 
Colorado's ranchers.
  Meanwhile, there have been some press reports suggesting that 
Congress might be asked to overturn the rules through legislation.
  I hope those reports are wrong. I do not think that is what we in 
Congress should be doing. In fact, I think we should move to 
strengthen, not weaken, the protection of the roadless parts of our 
forests.
  That is why I am today introducing a bill that would provide 
additional legal protections to roadless lands in the portion of the 
Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest within Colorado's Second 
Congressional District.
  My bill, the ``Northern Front Range Roadless Area Protection Act,'' 
would require the Forest Service to manage over 80,000 acres on the 
Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest as ``protected roadless areas.'' 
These lands--all within the Congressional District I represent--are 
areas that the Forest Service identified as roadless in its 1997 
Revision of the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Arapaho-
Roosevelt, and will be covered by the new roadless-area rules when 
those rules take effect. Further, most if not all of these areas would 
be appropriate additions to existing wilderness areas.
  The Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest is within a few minutes' drive 
for more than 2.5 million people in the Front Range Denver-Boulder 
metro area. It is experiencing increasing use of all kinds, especially 
recreational use. So, at least with respect to some of its most 
valuable lands, I want to undergird the new Forest Service rules with a 
statutory requirement to protect the special qualities of these areas.
  Under the bill, these roadless areas would be managed under the 
``recommended for wilderness'' management category in the existing 
Forest Plan until Congress decides otherwise. The bill would also 
require the Forest Service to study and evaluate these areas and make 
recommendations to Congress regarding their future management. That 
report would be submitted within three years. The bill will thus allow 
the Congress the opportunity to ultimately resolve the status of these 
roadless lands.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is limited in scope and deals only with some 
of the lands in Colorado that need legislative protection. More will 
need to be done to respond to the pressures of growth on our national 
forests and other public lands. But I think it represents an important 
first step, and I will seek to work with colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle to have it enacted into law.

           Northern Front Range Roadless Area Protection Act


                                Summary

       The bill would give interim protection to over 80,000 acres 
     of roadless areas on the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests 
     in Colorado's 2d Congressional District


                The forest, roadless areas, and the bill

       The Forest: The Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest includes 
     more than 1.5 million acres along Colorado's northern Front 
     Range. It surrounds Rocky Mountain National Park and contains 
     a number of designated wilderness areas. It contains a wide 
     range of ecosystems and topography including level grasslands 
     and peaks rising over 14,000 feet. It includes the rugged 
     part of the Continental Divide seen from the Denver-Boulder 
     metro area. Because of its proximity to 2.5 million people, 
     it is heavily used by the public, and provides vital 
     watersheds.
       Roadless Areas: The Forest Service's 1997 Revision of the 
     management plan for the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest 
     identified lands that qualify as roadless. The Clinton 
     Administration developed new rules restricting certain 
     activities in national forest roadless areas in order to 
     protect their roadless character and other natural resource 
     values. The Bush Administration has acted to postpone 
     implementation of these rules in order to review their 
     provisions. The bill would provide statutory interim 
     protection to maintain the roadless quality of some Arapaho-
     Roosevelt roadless areas until Congress decides on their 
     ultimate status.

                           What the bill does

       Acreage Affected: The bill would apply to over 80,000 acres 
     in 12 areas within the Second Congressional District (Boulder 
     and Clear Creek Counties) that were identified as roadless in 
     the 1997 forest plan. The bill would designate these areas as 
     ``protected roadless areas.''
       Management: The bill would require the Forest Service to 
     manage these lands in accordance with the ``recommended for 
     wilderness'' directive in the 1997 forest plan. This would: 
     (a) prohibit timber harvesting; (b) prohibit motorized 
     vehicles; (c) allow the location of ``hard rock'' minerals 
     (gold, silver, etc.); (d) prohibit oil and gas leasing.
       Grazing: The bill would specifically allow grazing to 
     continue under existing laws.
       Report: The bill would require the Forest Service to report 
     to Congress in 3 years with their recommendations as to 
     whether these lands should become wilderness areas or other 
     land management status.
       What the bill would not do: Designate New Wilderness Areas: 
     The bill does not designate any wilderness areas.
       Apply Forest-wide: The bill does not apply to the whole 
     Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest only to specified roadless 
     areas within the Second Congressional District.
       Address James Peak: The bill does not include the James 
     Peak Roadless Area.

     

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