Letter: Vote Bush out to help public lands

Friday, July 23, 2004 | 8:52 a.m.

So the Bush administration is at it again, this time with the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. I guess 2.5 million comments from the public, 95 percent of them supporting no new road building, just weren't enough.

One of those comments was from me. I take being rejected by my government a little personally, especially when it's something that hits very close to home. I spend a lot of time outside, in wilderness areas, national parks, and national forests, and I can tell you firsthand what damage can be done to pristine areas without protection. Revoking this rule would be a nightmare for what remains of our untrammeled forest.

This does have ramifications for Nevada, including Southern Nevada. Mount Charleston is a haven for Southern Nevada residents trying to beat the heat and the incessant stream of people. Without a Roadless Rule in effect to protect this and other areas, damage will be coming soon to a national forest near you.

The issue is not logging or fire protection -- it's what is best for what remains of our public lands in their natural state. I have little faith in this administration to act in the lands' best interest. It would seem the only recourse would be to beat Bush again, this time by more votes -- say, 2.5 million more?

BILL HUGGINS