National Forest Roadless Areas

State officials are taking yet another look at the management of national forest roadless areas in Colorado and may consider making some changes — or even withdrawing — the management petition that was submitted to the federal government last November.

Gov. Bill Ritter and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are studying the issue, and are likely to make a decision sometime within the next month, said DNR deputy director Mike King.

"The Governor and (DNR director) Harris Sherman are trying to get their arms around this," King said, explaining that there is a window of opportunity to make some changes because the federal government has not yet started its state-by-state review of roadless management.

"Gov. Ritter has the authority he needs to modify the petition or even withdraw it," King said.

At issue is the management of millions of roadless acres across the U.S. that were tabbed for protection under a national roadless rule issued in 2001 under the Clinton administration. In Summit County, about 60,000 acres of national forest land could be affected by any changes in roadless management.