I like those links that you mentioned.
“Land of Many Uses” was the motto for a long time.
Under Bill Clinton, politicans like Martha Ketelle vacated many allotments that had been active since the 1800’s.
One of their tricks was to say ‘no new roads’ in the title : which meant to try to close 50 miles per year of existing roads per forest.
This keeps hunters, tourists, fishermen, hikers, campers, families...off the public lands too.
The fire fighters then have a much bigger, more expensive, and more dangerous problem as these historical roads had allowed them to promptly and safely respond to a fire and to support any fire jumpers.
Their “ Timber harvest/allowable sale quantity “ section allows about one tenth of one percent per year available for harvest. That is less than...
A team of expensive lawyers would be needed to fill out all of the paper work. It might take several attempts to get it approved.
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPACT/1999/August/Day-06/i19922.htm
Thanks! I’ve read many of the threads on roadless forests, so I know some of that history.
I just found this long paper that has a good history (I’m still reading).
http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cj1n2-4.html
COMPETING FOR THE RENTAL VALUE OF FEDERAL LAND:
The Assignment of Use Rights and Their Regulation
Gary D. Libecap