懷俄明州法官再一次阻擋美國無道路區保育法規 | 環境資訊中心
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懷俄明州法官再一次阻擋美國無道路區保育法規

2008年08月18日
摘譯自2008年8月13日ENS美國,華盛頓特區報導;吳萃慧編譯;蔡麗伶審校

美國全國性非營利的荒野協會(Wilderness Society)表示,他們將對抗懷俄明州一位聯邦法官於8月12日所做的決策,這項決策阻擋了2001年所通過的無道路區保育法規(Roadless Area Conservation Rule)。美國聯邦地方法院法官布里墨(Clarence Brimmer)再一次頒佈一項抵制柯林頓總統時期無道路區法案的永久禁制令,並表示這項法令違反國家環境政策法案(National Environmental Policy Act)及荒野法案(Wilderness Act)。這個案子是第二次被懷俄明州政府提出來對抗美國農業部及其他聯邦部門。佔地 1.11 萬英畝的南奎特嶺保護區,位於華盛頓州奧林匹克國家森林內、濱臨奎特湖;圖片來源:聯邦林務局。

環境保育人士相信布里墨法官所頒佈的命令與加州聯邦初級法院法官(magistrate judge)2006年支持無道路區法規的決議有所衝突,但他並沒有推翻這個法規。布里墨法官的禁制令將陷38個州5850萬英畝的國家原始林地於危機之中。這些原始林在法令下受到免於開路、砍伐及其他開發行為的保護,而這項法令是柯林頓總統在1999年對美國聯邦林務署(U.S. Forest Service)所下的指示。在那項指示下開始啟動的公眾參與過程最後促成無道路區保育法規的頒佈,時間是在柯林頓政府結束的前8天。

在民意蒐集的期間內,有超過200萬筆的民眾意見表示贊同無道路區法規。這些民意是透過全國187場公聽會蒐集來的,然而布里墨法官並沒有權衡這個長達18個月的公眾參與過程及這麼多的公眾意見。他倒是很看重懷俄明州州長傑霖哲(Jim Geringer)表示民意蒐集時間「太短」的抱怨。

布里墨法官在他的禁制令中批示說:「林務署當時企圖支援一項即將離職總統的遺澤,在違反國家完備環境法的狀況下強加通過此項環境議案。林務署在無道路區域的定義,及他們執行最終版本法規之時間表,存有預設的想法,這也使得林務署讓這項無道路區域法規,在沒有權衡此法規的替代方案,與其可行性之正反面意見的狀況下,企圖以行政程序闖關。且林務署從來沒有停下來考慮這樣的無道路區法規,對於大多數民眾是否是最好的作法。」

美國荒野協會的律師安德森(Mike Anderson)表示,荒野協會將會對布里墨法官的命令向聯邦在丹佛市的第10巡迴上訴法庭(U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals)提出上訴。多年來,無道路區法規一直是反對者與贊成者反覆上訴的議題。

Wyoming Judge Again Blocks Roadless Area Conservation Rule
WASHINGTON, DC, August 13, 2008 (ENS)

The national nonprofit Wilderness Society said it will challenge Tuesday's decision by a federal judge in Wyoming to block the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. For the second time, U.S. District Judge Clarence Brimmer issued a permanent injunction against the Clinton era roadless rule, saying it violated the National Environmental Policy Act and the Wilderness Act.

The case was brought, for the second time, by the State of Wyoming against the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies. Environmentalists believe that Judge Brimmer's order conflicts with, but does not overturn, a 2006 decision by a California federal magistrate judge that upheld the Roadless Rule.

Judge Brimmer's injunction puts at risk 58.5 million acres of pristine national forest lands in 38 states that were protected from road building, logging and other development by a directive of President Bill Clinton to the U.S. Forest Service issued in 1999.

The public process initiated by that directive concluded with the promulgation of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule just eight days before the end of the Clinton administration. More than two million public comments in favor of the roadless rule were received during the comment period, which included 187 public hearings across the country.

Yet, Judge Brimmer did not give weight to the 18 month-long public process and numerous public comments. He did give weight to then Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer's complaint that the public comment period was "extraordinarily short." "The Forest Service, in an attempt to bolster an outgoing President's environmental legacy, rammed through an environmental agenda that itself violates the country's well-established environmental laws," Judge Brimmer wrote in his injunction order.

The judge wrote, "The Forest Service's preordained conception of what a roadless area would be, and its schedule for implementing the final rule, caused the Forest Service to drive the Roadless Rule through the administrative process without weighing the pros and cons of reasonable alternatives to the Roadless Rule. At no time did the Forest Service stop to consider whether Roadless Rule was the best idea for the greatest number of people."

Mike Anderson, an attorney with The Wilderness Society, said the group will appeal Judge Brimmer's order to the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. The Roadless Rule has been the subject of repeated lawsuits from both opponents and supporters.

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作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.