Senate Avoids Fight With Clinton Over New Logging Roads in Forests

WASHINGTON —  In a victory for environmentalists, U.S. senators from Western timber states backed off Wednesday from trying to overturn a presidential ban on new logging roads in pristine areas of national forests.

Instead, the Senate agreed by voice vote to provide $240 million to the U.S. Forest Service for the removal of dead timber and debris that could fuel forest fires near populated areas.

Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho) had pushed to block President Clinton’s plan to protect 43 million acres of national forests that have so far been untouched by roads.

Lawmakers from Western states, where the federal government has huge land holdings, say the roads are essential to logging companies, people who use the forests for recreation and isolated communities that need lifelines.

But the White House announced in May that it would bar the construction of roads in pristine areas of national forest to protect wildlife and ecosystems.

More than 380,000 miles of roads already exist in national forests, and the White House said resources should be used instead to repair and maintain those.

A Craig spokesman said the senator was willing to accept the alternative plan because it dealt with the immediate threat of fires.

Sens. Pete V. Domenici, a Republican, and Jeff Bingaman, a Democrat, of New Mexico pushed the plan to increase spending on forest debris removal.