Alaska State Legislature
News from the House Majority

Jerry Ritter, House Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
Ph: (907) 465-3804
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

House Opposition to Roadless Moratorium Unanimous

Tongass Not Out of the Woods Yet

For Immediate Release: February 2, 1998 Contact: Rep. Bill Williams at (907 )465-3424.

(JUNEAU) -- The Alaska House of Representatives Monday passed House Joint Resolution 49, placing legislators on record as opposed to the recent U.S. Forest Service policy which would halt development in roadless areas of most of the nation's national forests. The resolution, sponsored by Representative Bill Williams (D-Saxman), passed on a unanimous 35-0 vote.

"I'm glad to see such overwhelming support for sanity in how we manage our national forests," Williams said. "This resolution speaks to the inappropriate manner in which the White House is dictating management of national forests. The Forest Service has turned the public process upside down by announcing their policy first, then searching for scientific evidence to support their position," Williams said. "They're reaching-out for public comment after the fact."

The Tongass National Forest is not included in the moratorium, although it could be included after the 30-day public comment period closes February 27th.

"I hope to have this resolution pass the Senate by the 27th. We need to send a strong message to the Forest Service that what they are trying to do is wrong," said Williams.

The Chugach National Forest, Alaska's and the nation's second-largest, is included in the roadless moratorium. Williams says this land freeze is a violation of the Alaska National Interest Lands Consrvation Act (ANILCA).

"The 'no more' provision of ANILCA clearly states that only a vote of Congress can create any more wilderness in Alaska. Inclusion of the Chugach in the moratorium violates the spirit, if not the letter, of the law," Williams said.

Williams is urging Alaskans to write to the Forest Service and voice their concerns about the new policy.

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