Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Forest Service released its Final Environmental Impact Statement for its so called "roadless" initiative today. U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., said the proposal looks even worse than the earlier versions he's seen.

"The Forest Service's ultimate goal in initiating its Roadless Area Conservation proposal appears to be locking up public lands and locking out Americans from their National Forests," said Enzi.

Enzi said the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Roadless Initiative goes one step further than previous proposals in limiting activities on federal forest lands. Not only does the proposal prohibit road construction and reconstruction on close to one-third of all Forest Service lands, but the latest preferred alternative prohibits commercial timber sales.

"It's as if the agency never listened to a word contributed by local states and communities," Enzi said. "I had hoped that in the aftermath of this year's disastrous fire season the Forest Service would have recognized the need to actively manage Western forests. The agency chose, however, to tie its own hands and is proposing to eliminate one of its most effective tools in restoring and maintaining a healthy forest. A well-planned commercial timber sale can not only improve the conditions on federal forest lands, but it provides a needed shot in the arm for depressed local economies."

As a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business, Senator Enzi is particularly concerned by the blatant disregard by the USFS for federal statutes controlling procedures for the development of major rules such as the Roadless initiative. Specifically, Enzi cited the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act (SBRFA).

"By directly prohibiting certain forest-related activities this proposed rule will have a significant impact on many small businesses in those communities surrounded by Forest Service lands. SBRFA requires federal agencies to produce a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis that accompanies each regulation that could result in this kind of impact. The analysis is supposed to demonstrate that the agency has adequately consulted with small businesses and that it has developed a less onerous alternative. The Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is blatantly missing from the agency's FEIS."

The agency is scheduled to publish the proposal in the Federal Register Friday, Nov. 17. If it publishes the rule Friday that starts a 30-day review period after which a final rule can then be instituted.