Bush Forest Plan Draws Criticism

During the Clinton administration, 58.5 million acres came under federal protection from road construction, logging, and oil mining in an attempt to protect endangered species and fragile habitats and ecosystems.

However, the Bush administration is proposing allowing road construction and logging within the restricted areas, unless a governor disapproves of it within his or her own state. Former Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Ann Veneman had proposed new legislation a year and a half ago that would also have been detrimental to the Clinton forest plan. Her resignation, along with the disapproval of nine governors and 1.7 million written letters of opposition, has given Democrats and environmental groups hope that Bush will listen to their opinions and not push the proposal through. If, however, the next Agriculture Department Secretary Bush appoints is uncooperative, many groups are waiting in the wings to file lawsuits to freeze the proposal.

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