Trade group champions roadless rule

BOULDER – The Outdoor Industry Association played a key role in closing 1.2 million acres of backcountry to cars and development while keeping 3 million acres open to them, the trade group said Thursday.

The Colorado Roadless Rule is expected to be approved by President Obama after a 30-day comment period, the Boulder-based Outdoor Industry Association said in a press statement. The rule is expected to protect 1.2 million acres of mostly forested land in Colorado from development.

At the same time, the rule leaves 3 million acres open to development from utility companies as well as mining, drilling and ski-area expansion, among other uses. It is seen as a major compromise between outdoor and development interests, said Craig Mackey, OIA’s director of communication policy.

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“We think roadless is a great thing,” Mackey said. “We need that spectrum of outdoor opportunities and experiences to drive the economy and enjoy the great outdoors.”

Outdoor recreation supports 107,000 jobs in Colorado and $500 million in annual state tax revenues, according to the Outdoor Industry Association.

Oil and natural gas development in Colorado – some of it on public lands – generated $4.9 billion in economic activity in 2011 and 22,912 jobs across the state, according to the state office of the federal Bureau of Land Management. A spokesman from the Colorado Mining Association was not immediately available to discuss job and tax benefit estimates for the state from that industry.

Mackey said his group focused on the recreational and economic benefits of keeping some public lands closed to cars when talking to elected officials about getting the Colorado Roadless Rule approved. Locally, he said, residents should have both the bike path near their house and the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area (closed to cars) west of Boulder available to them.

“It’s not only a personal, educational and spiritual benefit, but it’s an economic benefit as well,” Mackey said.

The Outdoor Industry Association has more than 4,000 members. Locally, about 40 companies belong to the group.