This summer, Environment Maine criticized the Bush administration’s decision to defy the public and repeal protections for pristine national forests that had been protected under the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The rule protected 58.5 million acres of national forests, including 6,000 acres in Maine, from logging, oil drilling and mining.

Bush administration drops forest protections
“Once again the Bush administration has put a piece of America’s natural heritage at risk for short term industry profits,” said Heidi Overbeck of Environment Maine. “Last year, the clean drinking water, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities our wild forests provide were protected, and today they lie at the mercy of loggers and the oil industry.”

Under the Bush plan, state governors will be required to file a complex petition requiring federal approval to keep wild forests protected. These petitions are nonbinding, and the U.S. Forest Service is free to accept, reject or modify them, with no guarantee of protection for America’s last pristine forests.

Gov. Baldacci to petition for protections
Fortunately for Maine, Governor Baldacci has agreed to work with Environment Maine on protecting these pristine areas within our White Mountain National Forest.

“Our wild forests are vital for outdoor recreation in the Western Mountains,” said Gov. Baldacci. “I will petition for protection of these roadless areas—the public wants these 6,000 acres protected.”

As the petition process gets underway this fall, Environment Maine will be working to demonstrate again the support of the public and recreational businesses. You can help out by attending a public meeting or by submitting a comment to Maine’s Department of Conservation, www.maine.gov/doc.

Clean air victory

In June, Environment Maine’s Matthew Davis heralded the signing of the Cleaner Cars program into law. Hosting the event at his auto dealership was Adam Lee, the outspoken car dealer who helped us champion the program.

The Cleaner Cars program will have the following impacts on Maine:

• reductions in smog and air toxics pollution by 240 tons per year by 2020;

• 10 percent of new cars sold in the state by 2009 will be either hybrids or the cleanest gasoline cars;

• more consumer choice and less waiting for cleaner cars; and

• vehicle emissions standards in line with VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, CA, OR and WA.

This fall, the state will be considering adoption of global warming emissions standards for cars, to keep bringing the cleanest cars to the state.

For more information about cleaner cars, click here.

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