Plan for roadless research bashed

Gov. Brian Schweitzer announced Tuesday that he'll work to influence the U.S. Forest Service's roadless policies in Montana, but he was also highly critical of the Bush administration for having states "shoulder the burden" for the roadless issue.

Schweitzer said he plans to consult with county commissioners in particular in developing the state's position regarding roadless lands.

The Bush administration has framed its approach as an opportunity for states to influence national forest management rather than relying on a "one-size-fits-all" for roadless lands across the country.

But Schweitzer says the administration has failed to provide states with funding to do the job.

"They want me to inventory the federally owned forest land in Montana with no budget," he told the Inter Lake on Tuesday. "They didn't give us the tools to be successful. I'd love to take input and that's why I'm going to the county commissioners. We'll do our level best. We'll do it the Montana way. We'll string together some baling wire and somehow get this down the road."

The first scheduled meeting is with the Lincoln County commissioners June 16 in Libby. Schweitzer explained his preference for starting with county commissioners for input.

"Like the executive branch, county commissioners balance budgets and they

maintain roads. Every area of Montana is distinct, and counties with roadless areas within their boundaries have unique circumstances," he said. "I am committed to gathering input from the communities that are affected by this plan."

Schweitzer also wrote a letter to President George W. Bush expressing concerns about the administration's approach, and asking the Forest Service to provide staffing to assist with the process.

"The Forest Service budget in the state exceeds $47 million," Schweitzer says in the letter. "The state of Montana, on the other hand, has neither the budgetary nor the personnel resources available to take the necessary in-depth look at its 6,397,000 acres of roadless areas."

Despite a lack of funding, Lincoln County legislators have organized meetings to begin soliciting public comment for "locally supported" roadless management plans in Montana. The first meeting is planned for Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Eureka high school auditorium.

Rep. Rick Maedje, R-Eureka, urged the governor to embrace recommendations that are developed, saying that many Montanans have been working for years for more "site-specific" influence on federal roadless policies.

The Bush administration adopted its roadless rule on May 5, giving each governor 18 months to prepare petitions for submission to the Forest Service.

Schweitzer noted that the Forest Service is not obligated to accept recommendations from governors. In states where there are no petitions, the Forest Service will develop roadless management policies through a process for revising long-term management plans for individual national forests.

In a press release, Maedje said Montana should not pass up the opportunity to influence roadless management.

"If we do nothing, management of the (inventoried roadless areas) reverts back to the Forest Service and we will have nothing to complain about because we would have failed to act," Maedje said. "I trust the governor believes like so many of us in Montana do, that the people know best and that our governor would facilitate and encourage Montanans to develop our own locally supported management plans."

In his letter to Bush, Schweitzer expresses a preference for the approach taken by Bill Clinton's administration four years ago, citing the "exhaustive" public involvement involved with the Clinton roadless initiative.

"During that time, a record 1.6 million Americans participated in a nationwide 15-month effort involving 600 hearings and public meetings," Schweitzer wrote. "In Montana alone, thousands of citizens commented at the 31 public hearings held in both large and small communities. Of the Montana respondents, 78 percent urged the Forest Service to manage these areas under a strong and enduring conservation policy. Our Montana values and the importance of these mountain areas have not changed."

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com