Editorial: Roadless plan needs more input

Friday, Dec. 10, 1999 | 8:53 a.m.

President Clinton announced in October that he was proposing to set aside as much as 50 million acres of national forest lands, closing public access to them. The president deserves credit for taking an aggressive approach to preserving national forests from the timber industry's greed. While this would be a step forward, the process of gathering public input on this proposal leaves something to be desired.

The first of four U.S. Forest Service hearings in Nevada to get public comment was held in Las Vegas on Monday, but as the Sun's Susan Snyder reported, many of those attending the forum were upset that there was so little time to offer their views. The comment period ends Dec. 20, so these residents have a valid concern that they haven't been given enough time to address such a sweeping proposal.

After receiving public comments and other analysis, the Forest Service will release a proposed rule sometime during the spring of 2000, allowing for further comment at that time. So while the Dec. 20 deadline isn't the final round in the process, the Forest Service still is leaving an awfully short window of opportunity for people to make intelligent responses at the initial stages.

Many Western Republican members of Congress, who are unabashed supporters of the timber industry, have been angered by the president's plan and will do everything they can to trash the proposal. Unfortunately a short public comment period gives these Republicans the ammunition they need to suggest that the administration is seeking to railroad its implementation. Rather than hand these critics an issue, the Forest Service should extend the public comment period by as much as two months to give individuals an adequate chance to offer substantive remarks. Admittedly an extension may aid opponents, but effectively shutting out public comment certainly won't build support for this worthy plan, either.