Washington Joins Lawsuit to Protect Roadless Areas (As Written)

February 9, 2006

Governor Gregoire: Today we stand united in our fight to protect the natural heritage of our roadless areas, to enforce our country�s landmark environmental laws, and to insist that the will of the people of Washington register loud and clear in the �other� Washington.

We�re gathered this morning, joined by leaders from our business, conservation, and faith communities, to speak with one voice.

That we will do what is necessary to stop the Federal Government from destroying a natural legacy that our citizens have demanded we preserve; a legacy that our citizens want for their children, their grandchildren, and generations yet born to experience and to enjoy.

There is overwhelming public support for protecting our roadless areas. In 2001, 96 percent of comments supported strong rules for roadless protection. 80,000 comments. In 2005, another 90,000 comments. It was a landslide.

Just take a look at these sacks�a tangible reminder that democracy is about citizen action and real families!

These two-million acres of roadless lands are part of our recreational, economic, and spiritual heritage, and are home to rare and endangered species likely to be hit hard by road-building: From the Canadian lynx and the bald eagle, to Columbia River and Snake River steelhead.

It�s just common sense. Common sense and the law. I believe that the Bush Administration�s rescinding of the roadless rule breaks federal law including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Administrative Procedures Act (APA).

As an aside: The Department of Ecology has an agreement to address problems with our current forest-service roads. At the current rate of funding, it will take 100 years to fix these existing roads. Why is the Administration talking about building new roads?

Government should be about solving problems in a collaborative, common-sense way. That�s why instead of joining a three-state lawsuit in November, I petitioned the Bush Administration to create a simplified, expedited process so that our state could obtain the protections of the 2001 roadless rule. Among other things, this streamlined approach would save our state and federal agencies unnecessary and wasteful administrative costs.

Unfortunately, on February 1, 2006, the US Department of Agriculture denied our petition.

Therefore, we will join with the people of Oregon, California, and New Mexico and challenge the legality of the 2005 rule.

I want to thank our state�s Congressional delegation for their hard work and support on this issue, especially Reps. Dicks and Inslee and Senator Maria Cantwell.

Make no mistake: We will enforce our federal laws, and we will ensure that the voices of our citizens ring are heard in Washington, DC.


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