Weigh in on roadless areas

This peak near the Lost Creek Wilderness is in an unprotected "roadless area."
As reported in The Gazette Thursday, roadless areas in the Pike National Forest have an uncertain future.
There are 14.5 million acres of Forest Service land in Colorado. Wilderness areas account for 3.3 million of those acres, roadless areas 4.4 million.
In May, President Bush repealed a rule enacted by the Clinton administration that extended protection to a lot of roadless areas that weren't officially "wilderness."
Now anything could happen to those roadless areas - gas drilling, logging, an alpine slide: the door is open.
In the next year, a bipartisan group of legislators will be holding public hearings on the issue. The next one is today in Pueblo from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Pueblo Convention Center, 320 Central Main St.


Colorado Springs residents also can submit their thoughts to the task force by visiting the Roadless Area Task Force Web site.
Written comments can be mailed to The Keystone Center, attn: Roadless Areas Review, 1628 St. John Road, Keystone CO 80435.

-Dave