A state task force on Thursday approved major provisions of a plan that could restrict road building on 4.4 million acres of national forest in Colorado.
The 13-member group – composed of environmentalists, state officials, ranchers and foresters – tried to strike a balance between overwhelming public opposition to new roads in largely undeveloped areas and the pragmatic needs of forest managers and industry. Their recommendations still must be approved by Gov. Bill Owens, who appointed the task force.
Key provisions of the draft plan would:
- Prohibit road building on new oil and gas leases in designated roadless areas but allow temporary road building for existing leases.
- Exempt ski areas from the rule as well as active coal mines.
- Allow road building to reduce fire risks.
- Allow tree cutting under certain conditions to improve wildlife habitat.
“There were several items I would have liked to change, but I’m sure every task-force member feels that way,” said task force member and state Rep. Josh Penry. “In the end, though, there was a lot of productive give and take, and we came up with a plan that contains a lot of flexibility.”
The group’s missive was charted by a 2001 Clinton administration rule precluding new roads on 58 million acres of national forest. The rule was later overturned by the Bush administration in favor of a new procedure calling for states to suggest which areas should be preserved.
Over the past 10 months, the Colorado task force held more than a dozen packed hearings in communities near each of the state’s national forests.
Users of all-terrain vehicles, utilities and industry were among those who lobbied against special protection for roadless areas or, at a minimum, for decisions to be made at the local forest level.
Supporters of protecting as much roadless terrain as possible included environmental groups, sporting interests and numerous governments.
“Over 88 percent of all public comments the task force received supported roadless-area protections,” said Matt Garrington, field director for Environment Colorado. “Today’s recommendations are a step forward, but the task force still has work to do.”
Garrington said the environmental community was disappointed that the group didn’t recommend an interim policy to protect roadless areas from current oil and gas drilling.
Penry, R-Grand Junction, said the new plan doesn’t exclude new oil and gas development in roadless areas, but it will require companies to drill at an angle from less-sensitive sites in order to reach deposits.
“We heard from geologists that there aren’t a lot of natural gas in these areas anyway,” he said.
Mineral extraction on roadless areas was just one of the contentious issues the task force grappled with.
The group struggled with what to even call the state’s roadless areas. In many of the designated roadless areas, there are old logging roads. At a meeting in July, some members suggested calling the areas “backcountry” or “natural areas.”
The draft plan will be released to the public next week, and comment will be taken before it is submitted to Owens for final approval by Sept. 13.
Governors have until Nov. 13 to make roadless-preservation requests to the Forest Service. Otherwise, it will be left to the agency to determine the best plans.
Staff writer Steve Lipsher can be reached at 970-513-9495 or slipsher@denverpost.com.
Staff writer Kim McGuire can be reached at 303-820-1240 or kmcguire@denverpost.com.
