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Local groups protest BY Bob Bo=~h~dt Slatl Writer ' On Nov. 8, the U.S. Forest Service (USES) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) gave the green lieht to oil and gas leasing on approximately 21,000 acres in two key roadless areas on the Gunnison National Forest in western Colorado. In a recent press release, a coalition of environmental activist groups claim the USES and the $LM are violating [he interim directives of the Forest Service roadless rule by offering a lease sale. The press release claims this action is in violation of the Forest Service's' own roadless area policy and occurred despite formal protests filed by local and national conservation groups. The press release alleges the decision to allow leasing of the roadless lands all but eliminates the agencies' authority to prevent new oil and gas leases new road construction and loca- tion of drilling rigs within the roadless area. The Western Slope Environmental Resource Council (WSERC), High Country Citizens Alliance (HCCA) and the Wilderness Society, represented by the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, lodged a "lease protest" with the BLM and filed an objection let- ter with the USES. The groups claim the USES violated its own policy on road- less area protection by not requesting environmental review of the leasing propbsals before making the areas available for bidding. "Roadless area protection is a top priority for our members," said Jeremy Puckett of WSERC. "These lands provide impor- tant wildlife habitat, winter range and riparian corridors. Creeks that Flow through these areas provide clean water to im- gate nearby orchards, farms and ranches. "We believe that potential impacts to roadless character from oil and gas leasing should be analyzed before leasing occurs, not after. "In our experience, we've seen that mineral extraction and road building go hand in hand:' According to the press release, the areas that have been opened [o leasing and road con- struction are known as the Springhouse Park and Pries[ Mountain roadless areas. The two areas ate located sev- eral miles north of Paonia on the eastern Flank of Grand Mesa. The press release goes on to say, "Grand Mesa is well-known for its abundant aspen stands and is a popular destination for forest visitors who use its trails for hik= ing, horseback riding, mountain biking, snowmobiling, cross- cotintry skiing, ATV travel, and fishing its many lakes. "Springhouse Park gets a lot of hunting use in the fall and Priest Mountain is one of the largest, most intact roadless areas left on the Gunnison National Forest" The USES roadless area con- servation rule would have pro- tected these roadless areas from road consVUCtion and industrial development, according to the press release. The groups claim that "a record-setting 1.6 million American citizens commented on the roadless rule including more than 28,000 Coloradans. Roughly 95 percent of all letters and better than 90 percent of Colorado comments favored pro- hibitions on road building in the last remaining wildlands on America's national forests. "After the rule was stayed by a federal judge in Idaho, USES Chief Dale Bosworth issued interim directives assuring the public that areas protected by the rule would no[ be opened to development unless the chief See Protest, page 48