Other Stories this issue

Mr. Tyson’s Neighborhood

State Chip Mill Committee 
Releases Report

Big Industry Wants Different Rules
for Electricity in Missouri

Outings

Genetic Engineering in the News

We Defend Clean Air Suit

State Assembly Legislation
Overshadowed by Races

Thomas Moran - new chapter
political chair

New Opportunities for Roadless Areas

Smart Growth - Congestion Pricing

Archives

Forest Service Roadless Area Policy Means Opportunity 
for the Mark Twain The Forest Service (FS) is proposing a new policy to establish protected roadless areas in National Forests across the country. The initiative was signed by President Clinton in October and is in the planning stage now. This means an opportunity to protect roadless areas in the Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) in Missouri. But in order to make this work best for Missouri several adjustments will need to be made to the initiative. During the public comment period in December Missouri Sierrans asked the agency to reduce the recommended size of a roadless area down from 1000 acres. Eastern forests like the MTNF are less likely to have large areas not already impacted by roads. Thus to protect and eventually build up our roadless areas. we would benefit from a smaller initial threshold. We also asked the FS to acknowledge seven areas already identified as candidates for roadless area protection. Those seven areas are currently identifed by the agency as what are called "sensitive areas" and have been subject to minimal management impacts. The Lower Rock Creek area is one such candidate.