COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today asked U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns to issue rules protecting all of the roadless areas in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia. Governor Warner’s petition, filed today, asks the federal government to follow the terms of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule in Virginia, which generally restricted road construction and commercial activities unless needed to protect public health and safety.

The 2001 rule was repealed last May and replaced with a process in which individual governors must prepare a petition asking for greater or less protection than is called for under existing forest management plans. If the Forest Service accepts Governor Warner’s petition, it will negotiate a detailed plan with the state.

Governor Warner is believed to be the first governor to file a petition since the Bush Administration implemented the new procedure. Virginia has the most roadless acreage - more than 380,000 acres -- of any state in the eastern half of the country. Since taking office in 2002, Governor Warner has consistently urged the federal government to restore protections offered by the Roadless Areas Conservation Rule of 2001, including advocating for unsuccessful federal legislation introduced by U.S. Senator John Warner that would have codified the 2001 rule.

“Roadless areas in Virginia’s national forests are critically important for wildlife habitat and help safeguard drinking water for thousands of Virginians. Our forests also present really outstanding opportunities for recreation and tourism,” Governor Warner said. “I have determined it is in the best interest of the Commonwealth to have these areas protected in their current undeveloped state for current and future generations.”

Governor Warner’s petition notes that the U.S. Forest Service has received approximately 90,000 comments from Virginians supporting full protection of roadless areas. Today’s filing also cites a U.S. Forest Service estimate that demand for backcountry recreation in the national forests is projected to increase 170% by the year 2050. The petition also notes that Virginia’s national forests already have 3,000 miles of roads, with an accompanying maintenance backlog estimated at $20 million.

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