Sponsor Statement for HJR 49

The Forest Service recently announced a sweeping two-year moratorium on development of 'roadless' areas of national forests. Although the announced 'land freeze' appears to have exempted the Tongass National Forest from the policy, that is not necessarily the case.

The public has 30 days to comment on the roadless policy, after which the Tongass could be included in the moratorium. Also, the Chief of the Forest Service, Mike Dombeck, has said that the final long-term policy will apply to all forests.

The resolution speaks to the inappropriate manner in which the White House is dictating management of our 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 and reaching out for public participation.

The resolution also speaks to the Tongass Land Management Plan. Alaskans and Outsiders spent over 10 years and $13 million dollars revising how we manage the Tongass. It would be wrong to come back later with a unilateral amendment which alters the balance struck in the plan.

I urge your swift passage of the resolution, as the 30 day public comment clock is ticking.