09/26/06 Advisory committee gets roadless plan

Idaho is one of seven states to submit to USDA a roadless petition. That petition outlines Idaho's plan for the management of more than nine million acres of roadless areas within the national forests. As Governor Jim Risch was presenting the plan to US Department of Agriculture's Mark Rey a federal judge in California was tossing out the Bush administration's state petition rule process and reinstating the Clinton rules that went into effect in 2001. So where does the US Forest Service go from here? That question is answered by USDA's Dave Tenny. TENNY "What we will not do is simply set aside all the good work that's been done by these states because in our judgment the very best way to govern is through cooperation." Mark Rey says the ruling in California is the sixth federal court decision handed down. Three of the rulings find fault with the Bush plan, three do not. Rey says ultimately the US Supreme Court is going to have to decide if the state's have a say in roadless area management. REY "We believe the 2005 rule was merely a procedural rule to kick off the round of state specific rules and that the environmental analysis required would be done." Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott