TALLAHASSEE ? The
Northern District Court of California today overturned the Bush
administration’s repeal of protections for nearly 60 million acres of pristine
national forest lands, including 50,000 acres in Florida’s
Apalachicola and Osceola
National forests.
“The Bush administration
took way too many short-cuts in their rush to clear cut,” said Mark Ferrulo,
Environment Florida Director. “The most
pristine parts of Florida’s
national forests are once again safe from destructive logging, and mining.”
Judge Laporte found that the
Bush administration’s rule violated the National Environmental Policy Act,
Endangered Species Act, and Administrative Procedures Act.
The decision reinstates
protections first put in place in 2001 under a policy known as the Roadless
Area Conservation Rule. The Roadless
Rule protects the last third of America's
national forests while allowing new road construction in order to fight fires,
ensure public safety, and allow brush clearing to protect forest health. The
Roadless Rule ensures that forests will continue to provide clean drinking
water, habitat for wildlife, and endless opportunities for recreation and
solitude.
The Roadless Rule is the
most popular conservation initiative in our nation's history, having already
been supported by a record-breaking 2.5 million public comments.
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Environment Florida
is the new home of Florida
PIRG’s environmental work and is a statewide, non-partisan organization
dedicated to clean air, clean water and open spaces.
