More info from the NewsHour:

EPA Administrator Christine Whitman on the Bush administration's latest environmental policy moves.
(April 17, 2001)

A recent study on the effects of global warming
(March 28, 2001)

President Bush and the environment
(March 29, 2001)

The Clinton and Bush environmental policies
(Jan. 3, 2001)

From NewsHour Extra: The threat of global warming

Building roads through national forests
May 9, 2001

Who and what are national forests and parks for? That's a question many U.S. presidents have had to answer.

Just before he left office, former President Bill Clinton banned construction of new roads in national forests and parks. Clinton, along with environmental activists, said banning new road construction was the only way to protect forest land and preserve critical wildlife habitats.

On April 30, the Bush administration announced it would go ahead with the Clinton forest plan, but with a few exceptions. The exceptions will be announced in June.

The ban protects 58.5 million acres, about one-third of all national forest lands. Most of the land is located in western states such as Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

The new Agriculture Secretary, Ann Veneman, said providing roadless protection for our national forests is the right thing to do. However, she said there might be amendments that would give greater decision-making power to residents and logging and mining companies.

Lobbyists for the logging and mining industries say the ban locks up lands that are very valuable. Many residents in those states have jobs in the logging and mining industries. They say the ban will result in a loss of jobs and business. In fact, the state of Idaho, along with a powerful timber company, is suing in federal court to block the ban from taking effect.

Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne and Jim Lyons, the Clinton official who drafted the legislation debated the road ban on the NewsHour. You can follow the discussion in real audio, streaming video or written transcript form.

What do you think? Should President Bush allow roads through our forests? Which is more important, protecting natural habitats or protecting business and jobs?