GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.-
Industry officials and environmentalists, as usual, are at odds over the new proposed management plan for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests.
The Western Colorado Congress says it doesn’t set aside enough land for wilderness or provide enough protection for other land. “We see some real issues here,” said Bill Grant, WCC president.
“We feel the erosion of these areas that support the wildlife and recreation are diminishing the forest for public uses,” he said.
Greg Schaefer, a spokesman for Arch Coal, says it will allow the industry to operate for years to come.
The report, a revision of the 1983 management plan, was itself revised after being released last July.
The 346-page revised plan incorporates changes requested by the public as well as bringing it into compliance with federal law and forest planning guidelines, Forest Supervisor Charlie Richmond said when it was released March 16.
It recommends that Congress declare about 125,000 acres of additional wilderness, increase the land available for timber harvests by about 110,000 acres and allow coal leasing on additional 45,000 acres in the North Fork Valley.
Of the land in the North Fork Valley that would be considered for further coal leasing, the plan calls for about 22,000 acres to be removed from roadless protection given it by the Clinton administration. A federal judge restored that protection after the Bush administration withdrew it.
Schaefer said the coal industry will need to be able to expand into areas now listed as roadless.
The Forest Service has scheduled five public hearings for next month on the plan.
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