Roadless Rule Decision

Washington D.C. Eighty-thousand acres of pristine forest land in South Dakota may soon be open for development, and a national organization that's working to permanently protect the nation's wild places for future generations says that's bad news for hunting, fishing, hiking and other recreation. Comments from Campaign for America's Wilderness Executive Director Mike Matz.

THE NEW "ROADLESS RULE" FROM THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS GETTING A CLOSER LOOK - AND IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT IN SOUTH DAKOTA WHERE APPROXIMATELY 80,000 ACRES OF ROADLESS LANDS REMAIN IN THE STATE'S 2 MILLION ACRES OF NATIONAL FOREST AND PUBLIC LANDS.

MIKE MATZ WITH THE CAMPAIGN FOR AMERICA'S WILDERNESS SAYS THAT'S PRIME LAND FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE OUTDOORS.

"So, we're talking about just a little bit of acreage that now is open to the kinds of things that will ruin hunting and fishing opportunities, probably have some negative effects on water quality, and spoil other recreational activities."

MATZ SAYS THE RULING WILL GRANT THE GOVERNOR AUTHORITY TO PETITION THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO KEEP THE WILD LANDS.

"There is an opportunity here, I think, for Governor Rounds to step forward and petition the Forest Service to protect these areas in the next 18 months. And then there's the opportunity to protect them more permanently through wilderness designation down the road"

HE SAYS THE RULING WILL ALSO ALLOW THE GOVERNOR TO DECIDE WHETHER MORE OR LESS RESTRICTIONS ARE NEEDED.

"So, it does kind of land in Governor Round's lap here, an issue that normally wouldn't be under his purview because they are national forests. But, it does give them an opportunity, I guess, to step forward here and polish their conservation credentials and provide some opportunities for hunting and fishing."

SUPPORTERS OF OPENING WILDERNESS TO DEVELOPMENT SAY IT WILL GIVE STATES MORE CONTROL OVER FEDERAL LAND USE.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Questions can be directed to Susan Whitmore with the Campaign for America's Wilderness at 1-202-266-0435.

GREATER DAKOTA NEWS SERVICE, A radio news service for South Dakota 616 Second Ave. Southeast / Watertown, South Dakota 57201 phone: 605-886-8444 / fax line: 1-413-653-9554 gdns@publicnewsservice.org. Contact: David J. Law ACTUALITY LINE: 1-888-218-0313