The Forest Service ban on road construction in
roadless areas was proposed more than a year ago (HCN, 2/2/98) and
went into effect at the beginning of March. Now, it’s finally
having an impact on the ground. Last month, Dixie National Forest
officials canceled a controversial timber sale because it
conflicted with the 18-month nationwide moratorium; it’s one of the
first projects affected by the new policy.
The
sale would have allowed logging on about 15,200 acres west of
Boulder Mountain in south-central Utah. According to Dixie
spokesperson Frances Reynolds, the project called for the
construction or reconstruction of almost 29 miles of roads, some
within areas now classified as “unroaded” and off-limits to road
construction under the new moratorium.
Reynolds
says the withdrawal is not connected to a lawsuit filed by the
Sierra Club, the Boulder Mountain Wilderness Committee and the
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance shortly after the project was
announced in 1995.
In the Cedar City office of
SUWA, Liz Thomas says Dixie officials’ actions are a step in the
right direction. “There’s not much wilderness left in Dixie. We’re
pleased that they’re taking steps to protect the area from further
damage,” she says. “It’s encouraging that Dixie officials have
finally recognized that these areas do fit into the roads
moratorium.” The environmental groups plan to settle their
lawsuit.
Meanwhile, says Reynolds, Dixie National
Forest officials will re-examine the project and decide whether it
can be altered to fit the requirements of the moratorium. They
expect to reach a conclusion by the fall of
1999.
*Lisa Church
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Road ban stops a timber project.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
