OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Letter to Colorado Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Mr. Russell George

Date: Aug. 25, 2006
Issues: Oil and Gas


Mr. Russell George
Executive Director
Colorado Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Rm. 718
Denver, CO 80203

RE: Colorado Roadless Review Taskforce

Dear Executive Director George and Members of the Colorado Roadless Review Taskforce:

I am writing to commend the Colorado Roadless Review Taskforce on your recommendations for a Colorado Roadless Rule for our state's Inventoried National Forest Roadless Areas. I applaud the Taskforce for conducting such a complete and thorough public process to consider the future of our forested roadless lands.

I fully support the Taskforce's recommendations to not allow future road building for oil and natural gas development on Colorado's roadless lands. Our state is currently experiencing a renewed push for access to these resources, yet currently more than 70 percent the public land leased for energy development are not being actively developed. We should encourage exploration of those areas before sacrificing our last remaining natural areas.

That is why I would encourage the Taskforce to adopt or support strong interim protection polices to prevent immediate road building in roadless lands. The unfortunate fact is that current federal land management agencies have absolved themselves of their discretion to prevent new road building into roadless areas. It is important for this taskforce to send a strong message to support strong protections for these lands until your recommendations are final to prevent any further interim diminishment of these lands.

I would also encourage the Taskforce to preserve your strong recommendation to protect roadless areas throughout the proposed rule and avoid any exceptions that could allow unnecessary road building. It is important for the Taskforce to send a strong signal to the rest of the nation that Coloradans support our roadless areas and are committed to preserving them.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on your recommendations to protect the 4.1 million acres of roadless areas in Colorado and for your hard work in service of the citizens of Colorado.

Sincerely yours,

Diana DeGette

Member of Congress

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/co01_degette/roadlessreview.html

arrow_upward