Letter: Nevadans’ voices essential to protect forests

Wednesday, June 7, 2000 | 9:40 a.m.

On May 9 the Forest Service issued a draft proposal for protecting pristine wilderness areas in our national forests. I am disappointed that the Forest Service's draft plan does not reflect the forest protection vision articulated by President Clinton and embraced by the public.

While the draft plan would prohibit road building in wilderness areas, it still leaves Nevada's 1.1 million acres of forest wilderness, including the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, vulnerable to logging and other destructive activities that are not dependent on roads.

Timber companies are very good at logging in roadless areas, using helicopters and other creative methods. Another loophole in the Forest Service's plan is the possible exemption of Alaska's Tongass National Forest. Leaving the Tongass out of a final wild forest protection plan would be like leaving the Grand Canyon out of the National Park System.

It is up to the American people to let the Forest Service know that this draft plan, which would allow the continued destruction of lands that provide clean drinking water and recreation opportunities for millions of Americans, does not reflect what the public wants.

The Forest Service is accepting public comments until July 17 on the draft plan. All Nevadans should attend the public hearings being held in cities all across the state, and in Las Vegas at the Sahara West Library on June 29.

It's not too late for the Forest Service to reverse its present course and issue a final plan that protects pristine wilderness areas in all national forests from all destructive activities, including logging and road building.

KENT MITCHELL Nevada coordinator, U.S. Public Interest Research Group Washington, D.C.