[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 103 (Thursday, July 25, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S7373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. Warner, Mr. Chafee, Mr. 
        Cleland, Mr. Rockefeller, and Mr. Bingaman):
  S. 2790. A bill to provide lasting protection for inventoried 
roadless areas within the National Forest System; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I rise today to join with my colleague 
from Washington, Senator Cantwell, to ensure that the remaining, 
undisturbed areas within our National Forest system are permanently 
preserved.
  Like many of my colleagues, I have worked with the Forest Service and 
participated in the public comment process on the development of the 
current Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This administrative procedure 
was several years in the making with extensive public outreach of 
public hearings across the country. Thousands of Americans voiced 
support for protecting these areas from road building and other 
development.
  For my part, this legislation today continues efforts I have 
undertaken with my colleagues from the Southeast to protect the 
existing roadless areas in the Southern Appalachia forests. In 1997 I 
urged the Secretary of Agriculture to impose a moratorium on new road 
construction in these inventoried roadless areas. Last year, I urged 
President Bush to embrace and implement this important resource 
conservation policy. I was very encouraged that the President announced 
his administration's support for this rule on May 4, 2001.
  Today, with this rule under legal challenge, I believe that it is 
important to take another step forward with ensuring that this rule is 
codified so that it has the full force of law. While some may advocate 
changes to the current rule to gain advantages for greater use or 
greater restrictions on these inventoried roadless areas, I want to 
assure my colleagues that our legislation today mirrors the current 
rule. With the extensive efforts of the Forest Service to analyze the 
impact of the rule and the large number of public comments in support, 
we must stay true to this effort.
  The devastating fires on Forest Service lands in the West this summer 
have renewed our commitment to programs to reduce the fuel load on 
forest lands. I support Sen. Domenici's initiatives to redirect Forest 
Service funding of fuel reduction projects in areas adjoining 
residential areas, and remain committed to giving the Forest Service 
all of the tools it needs to reduce the loss of life and property from 
fires.
  An important reason for my support today is because I am convinced 
that the Roadless Rule does not prevent the Forest Service from 
undertaking any fire prevention activities in roadless areas. Nor, when 
a fire exists, does the rule prevent the Forest Service from taking any 
appropriate action, including building roads in roadless areas, to 
create fire breaks or other means to control a wildfire.
  But, Mr. President, there must be no doubt on this important issue. 
For that reason, we have provided further clarification that the Forest 
Service has every authority to prevent fires or to respond to fires, 
and to use appropriated funds to undertake fire suppression activities 
in roadless areas.
  This rule is a balanced approach to forest service management because 
it provides for reasonable exceptions for activities in roadless areas. 
I remain committed to the multiple-use management of our national 
forests. Timber and mineral resources on these public lands are assets 
that should be appropriately utilized and available for all Americans. 
My view of multiple-use management also recognizes and advances the 
recreational and environmental assets of these roadless areas.
  The remaining roadless areas in our national forests are important 
for providing outstanding recreational opportunities for the public. 
These lands also provide wildlife habitat and protect the water quality 
of many watersheds that serve as downstream drinking water sources for 
our communities.
  The Roadless Area Conservation rule is also sound fiscal policy for 
our national forests. The Forest Service has documented an $8.4 billion 
backlog in maintaining existing roads within our national forests. 
Continuing to build new roads in these fragile areas will only further 
strain the scarce dollars within the Forest Service.
  As I have indicated, the legislation we are introducing today does 
not change the substance or spirit of the Roadless rule in any way. To 
be clear, this legislation preserves the exemptions in the rule to 
allow for road construction where needed to protect these lands from 
floods, fires, and pest infestation. It ensures public access to 
private lands, and recognizes the existing rights to ongoing oil and 
gas leases.
  For Virginia, this legislation ensures that 394,000 acres of 
inventoried roadless areas in the George Washington and Jefferson 
National Forests are permanently protected. During the public comment 
period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the Forest Service 
received 68,586 comments from residents of Virginia. The Forest Service 
advises me that of this amount more than 98 percent of the comments 
supported full protection of these roadless areas.
  I am pleased to support this legislation that is important to all 
regions of the country. The public has voiced its overwhelming support 
for this important conservation initiative, and I trust that my 
colleagues will respond by passing this bill this year.
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