This guy does more flipping and flopping than a fish out of water.
With his National Monument Plan potentially locking up 13 million acres of OUR open Public Lands via abuse of the Antiquities Act which was meant to be used to protect very small areas around sites of historical significance, supporting big business and special interest initiatives by making exceptions to the Roadless Rule when it serves his purposes while at the same time defending the 2001 Clinton Roadless Rule in court.
500 Scientists Question Colorado Forest Plan
Ad calls on Obama to keep promise on national roadless rule
WASHINGTON - A week after the Obama administration issued a statement in support of a State of Colorado proposal to open areas within 4.4 million acres of roadless national forest to new coal mining and oil and gas development, more than 500 scientists from across the country are calling on the Obama administration to stand behind the national roadless rule, which would preclude this activity.
Initial analysis shows the state’s proposal falls far short of the protections provided by the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which was issued to protect 58.6 million acres of undeveloped national forests. The Obama administration endorsed the popular policy and is currently defending it in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, where it is being challenged by the Colorado Mining Association, among others. The administration initially praised the Ritter proposal, which would subject hundreds of thousands of acres of Colorado’s roadless areas to new road construction, logging and other development. This acreage has been protected from these activities under the 2001 Rule.
“Just a few weeks ago, the Obama administration defended the 2001 roadless rule in court,” said Jane Danowitz, director of the Pew Environment Group’s U.S. public lands program. “Now it appears the White House may be stepping back and allowing a plan with significantly lower protection than the 2001 roadless rule, with new allowances for power lines, mining, and oil and gas drilling in our national forests. We urge the administration to honor its commitment to science-based policy, and to keep its promise to uphold the roadless rule.”
More here . . .
http://www.ourforests.org/press/pr14apr2010.htmlHere . . .
http://www.leaveitwild.org/news/daily_clips/2549and here . . .
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100415/NEWS01/4150326/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02
