Dear Sir,
Who will be next? Sportsmen and recreationists, that's who.

Lawsuits by radical environmentalists have virtually eliminated the timber industry on federal lands in many regions including the Northwest and Southwest. These same groups are now attacking the livestock industry. But it looks like they won't stop there. When animals are removed from federal lands, humans will go with them with the help of government agencies who are writing regulations so the radicals don't even have to sue.

The U.S. Forest Service has recently issued a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement on proposed Forest Plan Amendments for the Southwestern Region of the Forest Service, which takes in 11 forests in New Mexico and Arizona as well as national grasslands in West Texas and Oklahoma. The stated purpose of the plan amendment is to add new standards and guidelines which would strengthen and clarify existing direction for the protection of federally listed threatened and endangered species.

In reality, the proposed amendments will not only eliminate livestock grazing on these forests, but will also prohibit any type of sports activity or recreation. One prize quote in the document that even the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture cannot define reads:

"Allow no activities that slow or prevent progression of potential habitat (habitat within 10 years of becoming suitable) toward suitable conditions, or that reduce the suitability of occupied or unoccupied suitable habitat."

It further reads, "the term 'species habitat' encompasses all stream courses (bank to bank) which are occupied, unoccupied suitable, potential, or designated or proposed critical habitat ..."

Another area says, "exclude off-road vehicle use from within species habitat and riparian areas."

Given the first quote, it sounds like "species habitat" could be virtually anywhere anything might want to go ... including your neighborhood McDonalds. The last quote tells the story for the sportsman.

Anyone interested in maintaining human activity on public lands should get a copy of the full document and comment. Contact the USDA Forest Service at 517 Gold Ave. SW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, Attention: Director of Ecosystem Analysis & Planning. The initial comment period is only until July 10, 1998. It would be a good idea to ask for an extension of the comment period so that all the interested public has an opportunity to participate. This amendment will definitely set precedent for public lands across the nation.

Joel Alderete
Albuquerque, New Mexico

(Editor’s note: Mr. Aldrete included a copy of the Forest Service proposal with his letter. Stockmen might be especially interested in provisions to protect the "Sonora tiger salamader," including a prohibition against using stock tanks to water livestock! Defenders of the federal Endangered Species Act continue to insist that it needs only a few minor tweaks rather than serious reform, but this kind of absurdity defies correction by tweaking. It calls to mind an incident a few years ago in which it was suggested that a particularly troublesome beast be castrated — at the neck.)