Colorado’s new rule for managing 4.2 million acres of roadless federal forest in the state reflects a compromise — superior protection for some land with limited road-building allowed on the rest.
Scattered islands of “upper-tier” territory covering 1.2 million acres across western Colorado would be shielded from any new roads — even for building powerlines, non-water pipelines and telecom lines.
But coal mines, ski areas, oil- and-gas drillers and loggers all would be allowed to build temporary roads on parts of the other 3 million acres.
Tradeoffs were made because those industries are “extraordinarily important to the economy,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Wednesday as he, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell and Gov. John Hickenlooper unveiled a final impact statement outlining the rule.
On balance, the other 3 million acres would not be significantly less protected than today under the existing national rule made in 2001 that governs roadless forests nationwide.
or bfinley@denverpost.com
