FS Retirees on Roadless Initiative

In a January 21, Douglas Leisz, Board Chairman of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees, sent a open letter to Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, congratulating her on her appointment and urging her "to review and reconsider the Forest Service Final Environmental Impact Statement for Roadless Area Conservation," underlying the National Forest Roadless Area Policy, which became official on January 5. In four well-argued bullets, Mr. Leisz critiques the EIS's:

• inadequate display and evaluation of effects,

• misleading comparison of alternatives,

• lack of a full range of reasonable alternatives, and

• failure to comply with existing laws and regulations.

Therefore, "we believe the reasons above are sufficient for you to reconsider Chief Dombeck's decision in the FEIS. We respectfully request that you withdraw the FEIS and produce a decision that is supportable under the standards set by NEPA and using the decision processes for land allocation as directed by federal law and regulation." To review the entire letter, click here.

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