Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns selected members to the Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee, which provide advice and recommendations on implementing the state petitions for the Inventoried Roadless Area Management Rule adopted by USDA in May of 2005.
The committee is set up to review petitions submitted by states, seek consensus, identify issues, and provide advice and recommendations on implementing the State Petitions Rule, but the largest users of roadless forests will not be represented.
The only two groups representing the interests of the recreation community are The Blue Ribbon Coalition, a motorized recreation group, and the National Ski Areas Association.
OIA has issued a statement regarding the significant oversight that has excluded millions of Americans and outdoor industry customers from participation in this process and the organization believes that this is the continuation of a pattern of favoring motorized transportation in policy making decisions.
The State Petitions Rule established a process that requires Governors to individually establish or adjust management requirements for National Forest System inventoried roadless areas within their States. Before the State Petitions Rule, these roadless areas were automatically protected by the federal government. USDA is accepting state petitions until November 13, 2006.
