Over the summer, many American's spent time hiking, camping and partaking in outdoor activities in our national forests.
While we consider these pristine places off limits and protected,
the shocking truth is that for years we've allowed extensive logging,
oil and gas drilling and road-building in our national forests.
Unfortunately, in 2005 the Bush administration attempted to repeal
the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which set out to protect
wilderness areas in America's national forests from the damaging
activities stated above. This repeal left 58.5 million acres of wild
areas vulnerable to logging, mining and oil drilling.
This issue hits home right here in Pennsylvania. The Allegheny
National Forest is Pennsylvania's only national forest and is one of
the many forest wildernesses threatened by the repeal of the Roadless
Rule. The Allegheny is most threatened by oil and natural gas drilling,
with more than 1,800 new wells scheduled to be dug this year alone.
Luckily, members of Congress have introduced House Bill 2516, the
National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act. This legislation would
protect the remaining wilderness areas in America's national forests,
and more than 150 members of Congress have already signed onto this
important bill.
Unfortunately, U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-4, McCandless Township,
has not cosponsored this bill. I hope that local constituents will
contact Altmire and tell him to support this legislation to protect our
cherished wilderness forest areas - for now and for future generations
of Americans.
Kelly Travers
PennEnvironment
Philadelphia
Editor's note: PennEnvironment is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization.
