Environmental groups, timber cutters and the Clinton Administration aregearing up for one final fight over some National Forest land. The fateof several hundred thousand acres of trees in the Midwest could be atstake. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Chuck Quirmbach has thestory:
Transcript
Environmental groups, timber cutters and
the Clinton administration are gearing up for one
final fight over some national forest land. And the
fate of several hundred thousand acres of
trees in the Midwest could be at stake. The Great
Lakes Radio Consortium’s Chuck Quirmbach has the
story.
The Forest Service has released a final
environmental impact statement for its plan to
limit new roads in the national forests. The
document has just been broadened to nearly ban
commercial logging in roadless areas. Forest
Service chief Mike Dombeck believes there is non-
partisan backing for saving big trees.
“People want good fish and wildlife habitats.
People want healthy forests. We want good
water quality, and there’s strong support behind
maintaining the National Forests for all the
American people.”
But timber companies in the Midwest and other
regions will try to get President Clinton to dump
the restrictions in the next month.
Environmentalists have launched a campaign to
help the rule take effect, and stay in place. For
the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, this is Chuck
Quirmbach reporting.