Please Thank Governor Ritter for Honoring Colorado’s Wishes
Governor Ritter asked federal officials for more time to develop the Colorado specific Roadless Rule, and this request was granted. The current presidential administration was working hard to finalize the flawed draft Colorado Roadless Rule before it leaves office in January. However, the Governor and the Director of Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources informed the US Forest Service on December 4th that additional time was needed “to address the concerns of impacted industries and thousands of Colorado sportsmen, conservationists and recreational enthusiasts before completing the state’s recommendations.”
The Ritter administration intends to ask the Obama administration for an expedited review of the Colorado Rule with the expectation that it will be issued within the first three to six months of 2009.
What can you do?
While the additional time prevents the flawed draft rule from being finalized, it does not ensure that any of the issues will be solved! Please contact Governor Ritter to thank him for giving us the time, and ask that we get the rule right!
Some suggested points to make are in the Sample letter. Please download the Word version and add your personal interest in roadless areas.
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| Sample letter
The Honorable Bill Ritter
Governor of Colorado
136 State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203-1792
Dear Governor Ritter:
I want to applaud you and the Director of Natural Resources Harris Sherman for ensuring the flawed Colorado-specific roadless rule did not get rushed into finalization. The draft Colorado rule in no way reflected, nor respected, what Coloradans have repeatedly asked for over the last decade – strong protections for our remaining undeveloped lands.
As a Coloradan that loves our public lands heritage, I urge you to continue to work with conservation, recreation, hunting, angling and wildlife officials to fulfill your promise that any Colorado Roadless rule must be 93 to 95% consistent with the protections afforded under the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, and that if the Colorado Rule was weaker than the 2001 rule, you would withdraw the petition.
Roadless areas are the backbone of our public lands. These natural, undeveloped public lands help bring in tourism, bolster recreation, and support businesses. They provide critical habitat for our wildlife and they ensure our water quality. These benefits directly increase the quality of life Coloradan’s enjoy.
Please help ensure Colorado’s Roadless areas are protected. The following are some of the key issues that must be resolved in order for any Colorado Rule to be effective:
- Roadless Area Inventory: The draft rule was created with an incomplete inventory of Roadless areas. Many boundaries were reduced inappropriately, and many areas that qualify for roadless area protection were not included at all. It is vital to have an accurate inventory for the rule to be effective.
- Long-Term Temporary Roads: The draft rule created this new agency road classification which essentially allows roads in Roadless areas! This provision must be removed.
- Vague Exceptions: The draft rule is riddled with many vague exceptions such as; access for grazing, utility and infrastructure corridors; logging for ‘wildlife,’ and most problematic the exceptionally vague ‘forest treatment’ exception. These issues must be resolved if the Colorado Rule is to have any meaningful protection for our undeveloped lands. It is possible to address these issues and preserve the Roadless character.
Thank you,
Your name
Address
Go to Gov. Ritter letter to download this in Word
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