Green Groups Blast Bush in Wyoming Forest Road Case
Mon September 15, 2003 05:22 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. environmental groups on Monday blasted the Bush administration for failing to appeal a Wyoming court injunction that blocked a Clinton-era rule designed to protect millions of acres of federal forest land.
U.S. District Judge Clarence Brimmer ruled in July that the U.S. Forest Service's attempt to designate 58.5 million acres of land as "wilderness" was illegal because it violated environmental rules.
Under court rules, the Bush administration had until last Friday to appeal the Wyoming judge's injunction but did not do so. A spokesman with the U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment.
The Clinton plan aimed to prevent road construction and the removal of oil and lumber in 58.5 million acres of federal forest land, unless needed for environmental reasons or to reduce the risk of wildfires.
National Environmental Trust, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and others said the refusal of the administration to challenge the Wyoming injunction was proof President Bush had no intention to back the rule despite overwhelming support by the public. (snip/...)
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