Roadless rule draws criticism

PUEBLO • What would Theodore Roosevelt think of the U.S. Forest Service's proposed Colorado roadless rule?

"He'd be very unhappy," said Denis Berckefeldt, who came to a public meeting Monday night dressed as the 26th president and noted conservationist - knickers and all.

Modern conservationists are also unhappy with the proposed rule. Though it would designate 4.1 million acres in Colorado roadless, it includes exemptions for mining and energy leases, tree thinning, livestock grazing, water and utility projects and ski resorts.

"The land is owned by all the people of the United States and it needs to benefit all the people of the United States," Berckefeldt said. "We don't think this rule does that. It benefits a very narrow section."

He was one of three dozen or so who came to the meeting, the first of eight being held around the state in coming days on the proposed rule. The next-closest meeting to Colorado Springs is Thursday night in Golden, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Marriott Denver West, 1717 Denver West Boulevard.

The roadless controversy dates to 2001, when President Bill Clinton banned development on areas identified as roadless - 31 percent of national forest land in Colorado. A federal court blocked a Bush administration effort to overturn the ban.

In 2006, Republican Gov. Bill Owens asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to draft rules specifically for Colorado, and Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter resubmitted the request, with a few changes, when he took office the next year.

The Forest Service proposes creating 674,000 roadless acres in the Pike and San Isabel national forests, including 27,400 acres on Pikes Peak. The agency is taking public comments on the proposal through Oct. 23, with a final decision to follow early next year.

Most in attendance Monday opposed the roadless rule because of the exemptions.

"I much prefer they leave them wild," said Jim Colson of Pueblo. "Where do you want the animals to live that we have pushed out (of ) the rest of the land? I'd just like to leave something for them."

Many who came Monday were affiliated with conservation groups, which are waging a statewide campaign against the proposal.

"The way the rule is written pretty much allows them to go in and do fuels treatment anywhere in the backcountry," said Michael Rogers, policy and outreach director for Colorado Springs-based Wild Connections. "This is not what the state and the public asked for, because of these exceptions."

The impacts on the Pike and San Isabel national forests will be minimal, said forest supervisor Bob Leaverton.

The area lacks the oil and gas development being experienced by other forests, though there are 3,400 acres of mining and energy leases in the Rampart Range roadless area, in the foothills northwest of Palmer Lake.

In most of the two national forests, temporary roads for fire reduction would be the only reason for road-building, Leaverton said.

"I really think we can have our cake and eat it too on the Front Range, if we're considerate of others' needs," Leaverton said.

Asked about the argument that roads should be prohibited in roadless areas, Leaverton said, "We have that already. It's called wilderness areas."