WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski,
R-Alaska, today released the following comment concerning a federal judge’s
decision to accept a settlement proposal by the U.S. Forest Service in
Organized Village of Kake, et. al. v. USDA. The settlement re-imposes the 2001
roadless rule in the Tongass
National Forest.
“The settlement catches the communities in Southeast in a
terrible trap. While the agreement provides limited protection for a handful of
energy and mineral projects, it excludes dozens of other projects – and
hundreds of areas with great potential – that could help lower energy costs and
boost the region’s economy.
“I’m disappointed the court did not approve the state’s
request to protect additional projects from potential harm from the roadless
rule. I understand that the state is seriously evaluating all legal options,
including appealing the judge’s decision accepting the settlement and a suit
challenging the validity of the roadless rule itself. I strongly encourage the
state to pursue both of those options.
“At the same time, I have co-sponsored legislation with Sen.
Barrasso of Wyoming that would remove roadless
restrictions from all federal forests in the state of Alaska.
“The roadless rule was never intended to apply to the
Tongass because ANILCA already set logging limits for the forest, as did the
Tongass Timber Reform Act.”
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