Forest plan full of holes, critics say

Foes believe roadless-area rules could open 300,000 acres to development. By Mark Jaffe The Denver Post Sportsmen's groups are pressuring Gov. Bill Ritter not to sign off on a soon-to-be-proposed rule regulating roadless areas in national forests. The rule, negotiated by the Ritter administration and the U.S. Forest Service, is expected to protect about 4.1 million acres but potentially open 300,000 acres to development, according to a consortium of conservation groups. The Forest Service's timetable would adopt the rule before the Bush administration leaves office. "This rule leaves Colorado with less protection on its national forest than any other state in the country," said Jane Danowitz, director for the Pew Charitable Trust public lands program. The Ritter administration, which took over the roadless plan from former... [read full story]