What Schwarzenegger Didn’t Get Trying to Work Cooperatively with the Bush Administration on the “Roadless Rule” Protecting Calif

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

California tried to work in “good faith” with the Bush Administration and received “assurances” from the U.S. Forest Service that the state’s concerns about protecting forest and wildland areas would be protected under the “Roadlesss Rule.” Late Friday, Governor Schwarzenegger released a series of letters http://gov.ca.gov/index.php?/press-release/7100/ and a new strongly worded one to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns regarding the recent denial of appeals that the California Resources Agency submitted to the U.S. Forest Service in July 2006.

This is an important environmental issue for millions of pristine areas in California and also a painful lesson in the failure of the state in taking legal action and sending strong messages to those trying to undo what has been called the largest conservation efforts of the Clinton Administration, which took place just before George Bush took office. Just as the Governor is trying to play footsie with the California Republican State Senators on rolling back the California Environment Quality Act (CEQA), saying he supports their goal but not holding up the budget over it, there are dangers in cooperating with national Republicans who are hostile to the environment.

Aside from one article in the San Diego Union, “Fate of Clinton roadless rule back before Wyoming judge,” that actually appeared before the Governor’s press release, there does not appear to be any coverage of the rebuff of California on this issue.

A year ago, we featured an article by Assemblymember Lloyd Levine about legislation he carried to try to protect these areas. Unfortunately, he was not successful. In it, he pointed out why what are known as Inventoried Roadless areas (IRA’s) need protection, and it is worth rereading in light of the current news:

“In California, IRAs account for 20 percent of California’s National Forests. The mishandling of these areas can jeopardize the economic and ecological values afforded by these forests – especially when you consider that our national forests supply two thirds of our drinking water and provide habitat for commercial fishing. Many popular wilderness areas like the Tahoe National Forest are protected from industrial activities solely by the Roadless Rule.

“Californians place such a premium on these majestic destinations that they played an active role in the formulation of the 2001 Roadless Rule. The U.S. Forest Service hosted approximately 617 public meetings nationwide, including more than 42 in the state of California, for the purpose of information sharing and comment collection during the federal rulemaking process which drew more than 39,000 people.