4/22/01 - The following statement was issued by AF&PA President and CEO, W. Henson Moore, to address the lawsuit filed today by AF&PA in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals against the Clinton Roadless Area Policy of 2001: "The American Forest & Paper Association, in conjunction with several co-plaintiffs, today filed suit against the Clinton Administration's roadless policy. We have taken this step to insure the future health of our National Forest System by preserving local-level decision-making and to protect private lands and access to inholdings. "The members of AF&PA wish to make clear they do not oppose the concept of roadless areas. We recognize the wisdom of keeping appropriately designated sections of our National Forest System roadless. However, the policy promulgated this January fails to address the issues raised by our suit, and already one court has indicated the process by which the Forest Service reached its final decision on roadless policy was flawed. "If AF&PA felt the regulations decreased the possibility of catastrophic fire, enhanced the sustainability of our national forests, contributed to the maintenance of clean watersheds and diverse wildlife habitat, and observed the carefully crafted and balanced requirements of the law pertaining to multiple-use management, litigation would not be required. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Co-plaintiffs with AF&PA include: American Forest Resource Council, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Hardwood Lumber Association, Lake States Resource Alliance, Lake States Lumber Association, Intermountain Forest Association, Minnesota Timber Producers Association, Ouachita Timber Purchasers Group, Alaska Forest Association, Arkansas Forestry Association, and California Forestry Association.