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Ritter submits revisions to roadless petitionDENVER (AP)--As an avid fly fisherman and outdoorsman, Gov. Bill Ritter said he appreciates Colorado's natural treasures. That didn't mollify environmentalists who said April 11 they are upset with his plans to revise the roadless petition submitted by his predecessor, Gov. Bill Owens. Ritter said he is asking the federal government for an "insurance policy" to protect 4.1 million acres of national forest roadless areas in the state from development if a court strikes down the roadless protections that are now in place. "This issue is extremely important to Colorado's hunters, anglers and citizens in general. With the modifications set forth in this letter, I look forward to working with you to promulgate a Colorado Rule which will protect Colorado's roadless areas," he wrote. The Clinton administration banned new roads on nearly 59 million acres of national forests nationwide, but the Bush administration overturned that rule and told states to submit petitions suggesting how the land within their borders should be managed. Owens submitted Colorado's petition in November, accepting a task force's recommendation that most of the 4.1 million acres in question remain roadless. Ritter's announcement left most of Owens' recommendations intact. But the fate of the petition and the forests are unclear because a federal judge in San Francisco has reinstated the Clinton-era ban on new roads. A timber company has appealed. Environmentalists were quick to react, saying Ritter's plan weakens rules that are already in place. "Every good insurance policy holder knows that you need to update your plan to reflect new circumstances. Both the legal and political environments have changed significantly since the state developed its first petition. Resubmitting the old petition with minor modifications ignores what is needed now to best protect the national forests in Colorado," said Robert C. Vandermark, director of the Heritage Forests Campaign. "The 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule has been reaffirmed as the law of the land and it's the best way to ensure protection for our last wild forests. Despite what Governor Ritter may say, his state-specific roadless petition is not only unnecessary, but it aims too low in terms of protecting Colorado's roadless areas," Vandermark said. Dave Peterson, a spokesman for Trout Unlimited, said Ritter's proposal fixes some problems in Owens' petition but it also leaves too much leeway for road-building for timber and grazing. "There is no restrictive language and it would allow roads in roadless areas," Peterson said. Brian O'Donnell, public lands director for Trout Unlimited, said Ritter's petition leaves hunters and fishermen at risk of losing the protections they have now. Ritter told the Agriculture Department and the U.S. Forest Service he wants interim protection for Colorado's roadless areas while the federal government reviews whether to keep wilderness-style protections for the lands. He also said he wanted the state Department of Natural Resources and Division of Wildlife to be able to work with federal land managers on any proposed activity within the roadless areas. Ritter asked that some areas in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests be classified as roadless, with limited exceptions for temporary roads and other activities associated with coal exploration and development. Tom Troxel, spokesman for the Colorado Timber Industry Association, said the industry has no intention of exploiting the new rules. He said the Forest Service would still decide where timber could be cut. "I would expect the Forest Service to be present on that, and there will be few exceptions," he said. A spokesman for the Colorado Mining Association did not return a call seeking comment. Ritter praised the Colorado Roadless Area Review Task Force, whose recommendations formed the basis of the Owens' petition. But said he is concerned a court could eliminate roadless protections that are now in place, so he wants an "insurance policy" in case that happens. "I am supporting the vast majority of its recommendations. However, there are a limited number of matters that require some modification," Ritter wrote in a letter to the two federal agencies. "The 2006 petition, as modified by this letter, recognizes Colorado's commitment to protecting our invaluable wild places and at the same time allowing for limited activity where unique circumstances exist," Ritter wrote. Date: 5/3/07
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