From this week's issue of The B.O.S.S. Report
Several U.S. state governments and environmental groups were successful in a direct legal challenge to the current administration’s repeal of the Roadless Rule. U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Laporte ruled that the Bush Administration did not conduct a satisfactory environmental analysis before making changes that allowed states to decide how to manage individual national forests. The Roadless Rule originally protected 58 million acres of roadless forests in 39 states.
According to the Court, the administration is enjoined from taking any further action contrary to the Roadless Rule without undertaking environmental analysis consistent with judge Laporte’s judicial opinion. In addition, the court found that the Bush Administration failed to comply with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act.
A comment from Peter Metcalf, CEO of Black Diamond Equipment & land preservation activist
“The recent court decision upholding the Roadless Rule, though most gratifying is but a short-term win in the ping-ponging decisions of differing courts. Though BD’s sympathies lie with preserving the majority of Roadless areas as Roadless, we also recognize that a “one size fits all” national decision is destined for years of further litigation and risk to those areas in greatest need of real protection. There has got to be a better way to resolve this that makes the land the winner and does not suck up '$millions' in legal fees...”
So how does this impact the bike and snowsports market... We'll see.
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