From yesterday's AP wire, via the Guardian, "Bush Plan Opens More Forests to Logging":

Governors would have to petition the federal government to block road-building in remote areas of national forests under a Bush administration proposal to boost logging.

Environmentalists say the proposed rule change, outlined this week in the Federal Register, would signal the end of the so-called roadless rule, which blocks road construction in nearly one-third of national forests as a way to prevent logging and other commercial activity in backcountry woods.

[. . .]

Forest Service spokeswoman Heidi Valetkevitch stressed that the proposal was preliminary, but called it an accurate statement of the administration's intentions.

Officials had said last year they would develop a plan to allow governors to seek exemptions from the roadless rule. The latest plan turns that on its head by making governors petition the Agriculture Department if they want to maintain restrictions on timbering in their state.

"The roadless rule is struck down nationwide,'' Valetkevitch said, referring to a 2003 ruling by a federal judge in Wyoming. "We are trying to create a rule that will pass legal muster.''

Mark Rey, the Agriculture undersecretary who directs U.S. forest policy, said the Federal Register notice was just one of many options the administration is considering.

"What you have here is a summation of one option that has not been decided on. There's no reason for anybody to get agitated about it,'' Rey said. "When we finally close in on an option people will have plenty to say whether they like it or not.''

Asked why other options were not published, he said they were "fairly complicated.''

UPDATE: Roadless Rules for Forests Set Aside