Forests Forever Action Alerts

8/22/05

LEVINE BILL WOULD HELP PROTECT ROADLESS FORESTS

As time runs out in this legislative session in Sacramento, a bill that would help lock in Californians’ stated preference for the protections of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule is entering the home stretch.

Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) introduced AB 715 in June. The measure would forbid any state department or agency from spending funds to implement plans by a federal agency that are not compatible with the original, protective 2001 federal roadless rule.

It would allow state departments to assist the federal government in implementing plans that were consistent with the 2001 rule, however.

The measure has been passed by the state Assembly, and is now in the Senate, where it could come up for a floor vote any day. After approval by the Senate, the bill must go back to the Assembly so that the amendments added in the Senate can be voted on.

The deadline for floor action on all bills in the state legislature is Sept. 9.

The Bush administration repealed the original roadless rule in May 2005 and substituted a burdensome petition process in which governors can ask to protect (or open to development if they choose) the roadless forests in their states. These requests, in turn, can be approved or denied by the Bush administration.

Levine’s bill is the only piece of legislation this session that addresses the strongly expressed desire of Californians to protect roadless forests in the state. (140,000 public comments came from Californians during the development of the original roadless rule, 136,000 asking for even stronger protections than the Forest Service was proposing.)

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not yet indicated whether he will sign AB 715.

"He can help keep his promise to protect California’s forests by signing the bill when it reaches his desk," said Paul Hughes, executive director of Forests Forever.

TAKE ACTION

Write to your state senator and assemblymember and ask them to support AB 715.

To get contact information for your state senator, visit http://www.sen.ca.gov/

To find your assemblymember, go to http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset7text.htm

Finally, write to Gov. Schwarzenegger and urge him to sign AB 715:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

TALKING POINTS

o the repeal of the original roadless rule by the Bush administration leaves the roadless forests of California open to roadbuilding, logging, oil and gas drilling, mining, and other forms of development.

o roadless forests protect watersheds and help provide clean drinking water.

o roadless forests provide outdoor recreation such as hunting, fishing, camping and hiking.

o the wilderness experience afforded by roadless forests is irreplaceable.

o Gov. Schwarzenegger has promised to keep roads out of California’s roadless forests. Signing AB 715 into law would show that he plans to keep his promise.