Governor Gregoire Announces State Will Join Lawsuit to Protect Roadless Areas

For Immediate Release: February 9, 2006

SEATTLE � Governor Chris Gregoire today announced that Washington State will join California, New Mexico and Oregon in a lawsuit that challenges the Bush administration�s repeal of the roadless rule.

When President Bill Clinton proposed the roadless rule during his presidency, a public comment period yielded overwhelming support for the rule. Again, in 2004, a public comment period reiterated support by Washingtonians for the rule. However, in May 2005, the Bush administration repealed the rule.

�The people of Washington spoke overwhelmingly � twice � in support of protecting our roadless areas,� said Governor Gregoire. �Joining this lawsuit is our last effort to defend Washington�s quality of life and our economy. This protection is the right policy for Washington citizens and vital for those areas of our state where the economy is dependent on tourism, fishing, hunting and hiking.�

�I am grateful to Senator Cantwell and Representative Inslee for their dedicated leadership on this issue. They, too, understand the impact this change will have on the quality of life in Washington,� added the Governor.

Congressman Jay Inslee is a member of the House Resource Committee and has led efforts in the U.S. House to restore protections for roadless areas. Senator Maria Cantwell has fought in the U.S. Senate and is a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

"The voice of Washington families in the fight to protect the heirlooms in our national forests grew much stronger today," said Representative Inslee.

"I am proud to stand together with Governor Gregoire in doing whatever it takes to preserve our state's last remaining pristine forestlands," said Senator Cantwell.

On February 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture denied the Governor�s petition to create an expedited process in which states could choose to obtain the protections of the 2001 roadless rule. The petition would have simplified the process and saved administrative costs to the state.

The Governor made the announcement today in Seattle where she was joined by REI President and CEO Sally Jewell, John Boonstra of the Washington Association of Churches, Chairman Billy Frank Jr. of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and Mark Heckert from the National Wildlife Federation.

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