Editorial: Hiking for chainsaws

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004 | 9:12 a.m.

Just as there is no mandate from the people to meddle with Social Security, there is no mandate to meddle with federal regulations governing national forests. But the Bush administration is taking it upon itself to meddle anyway. It's radically changing rules governing national forest policy, so that they better accommodate the logging and mining industries and more effectively hamstring people concerned with ecology and the environment.

Under new administrative rules, general forest management plans can be prepared and revised without the need for producing environmental impact statements. Environmental impact statements require managers to carefully weigh the consequences when preparing a forest's master plan, and to give strong consideration to the views of the public. This change wrecks the balance of power between public and private interests. Managers of national forests are empowered by the new rule to largely use their own discretion in approving the mix of recreational and commercial activity that will be allowed within their jurisdictions. And who will they listen to? The muzzled voice of the public? Or the demands of powerful special interests?

Also, a rule adopted during the Reagan administration required forest managers to maintain "viable populations" of all "existing native and desired nonnative vertebrate species." The Bush rules change that to say forest managers should "provide a framework for maintaining and restoring ecosystem conditions necessary to conserve most species." This is a rule only a timber or mining company could love.

If our sensory perceptions along the trails of our national forests someday include the sight of new paved roads and the incessant roar of chainsaws and drilling, we'll have President Bush to thank -- unless Congress or the courts stand up to this madness.