Montana Gov. Marc Racicot (R) joined the state of Idaho yesterday to try to throw a wrench into a Clinton administration plan to protect 40 million acres of roadless national forest land. Idaho and Racicot have asked a federal judge for a preliminary injunction that would block the U.S. Forest Service from beginning a study of the environmental impacts of its plan until a lawsuit filed by Idaho challenging the plan has been decided. Racicot, acting on his own and not on behalf of Montana, said the administration proposal would take away the rights of the state and private citizens to access property that is surrounded by national forest land. Supporters of Clinton’s plan say opponents are using delay tactics in hopes that Clinton will leave office before the plan can be adopted.
