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Friends of the Boundary Waters
Wilderness, July 28, 2001
U.S. Senator Mark Dayton (D-Minn.) joined a lawsuit to overturn the
protection of 58 million acres of national forest. Former
President Bill Clinton signed the rule, the Roadless Conservation
Initiative, in January 2001. Please
call Senator Dayton today to express your opposition to this decision.
Dayton filed a friend-of-the-court brief with a federal appeals court
that is reviewing the legality of the rule. U.S. Senator Larry
Craig (R-Idaho), who is one of the rulešs most strident opponents,
joins Dayton in the effort.
Dayton claims that the measure "puts in jeopardy the health of our
forestsand has serious impacts on our wood products industry and on
the jobs of people throughout northern Minnesota."
The Friends opposes Daytonšs action and disputes his assertion.
1.) The roadless initiative affects only 62,000 acres, or 2
percent, of the 2.8 million acres of national forest in Minnesota
2.) The roadless policy affects only 0.0016 percent of the state's
total timber harvest.
3.) Due to increased use of laborsaving technologies, cutting in
roadless areas would not necessarily translate into maintaining or
creating more jobs.
We strongly urge you to call Senator Dayton's office and register your
opposition to his decision. Remind him that nearly 23,000
Minnesotans commented in favor of roadless conservation policy and that
the economic impact of the roadless rule in Minnesota is minimal. When
you call, please give your name and address. You may reach him at
the following office numbers:
Washington, D.C. (202) 224-3244
Fort Snelling, MN - (612) 727-5220
Thief River Falls, MN - (218) 681-2166
For more information contact:
Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness
401 North 3rd Street, Suite 290
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-332-9630
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