Reaction across the West to the Bush administration's decision Thursday to open up nearly a third of all remote national forest lands to road building, logging and other commercial ventures.

ALASKA:

"It's a hotly debated item, but what we're going to see out of this, I think, is an effort by this administration to balance the areas that don't have roads in them and allow other areas to have road access.'' —Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski.

"In Alaska where so much of our land is federally controlled, local input on the use and management of those lands is critical to a community's success. I applaud the administration for setting out a policy where the people of each state can be heard. — U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

ARIZONA:

"It's a shame and one of the most striking things about the whole process is how dishonest it's been. ... The old plan helped to protect roadless areas in national forests. The new plan completely reverses protection for roadless areas. It's a wholesale abandonment of protection for roadless areas. Putting a fancy name on it does not change the facts.'' —Erik Ryberg, a Southwest forest advocate for the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity.

"The Bush administration is focused on harming the national forests. Arizona forest is public land, and they don't belong to the timber industry or any one industry.'' —Sandy Bahr, a spokeswoman for the Sierra Club.

CALIFORNIA:

"California's forests are one of our state's most treasured and valued resources. I am committed to protecting the vibrant health and sustainable future of our forests. In keeping with that commitment and the assurances we have from the U.S. Forest Service, roadless areas in California will remain roadless.'' —California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"We have no plans to build roads in the roadless areas of the national forests in California. ... Areas are roadless here for a reason.'' —Matt Mathes, regional spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service.

"It's a much more sane policy in dealing with our roadless areas.'' —Phil Aune, vice president, California Forestry Association.

"We think this is a tragic gutting of the roadless rule that had such popular support and would have done so much to protect California's roadless areas.'' —Ryan Henson, policy director, California Wilderness Coalition.

COLORADO:

"We're disappointed the way it's turned out, but we look forward to working with Gov. (Bill) Owens to save as much roadless land in Colorado as possible.'' —David Petersen, head of the roadless land program for Colorado's chapter of Trout Unlimited.

"Trees, wildlife, and fish don't respect state boundaries, and I don't think decisions about management of roadless areas — or other parts of the national forests — should be based on those lines, either,'' —Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., who also called the rules "a significant step backward.''

"There is not one single Western state that's not been asking the federal government for more power to determine these kinds of decisions.'' —Jim Sims, executive director of the Denver-based Western Business Roundtable.

IDAHO:

"We congratulate the Bush Administration for taking such a positive step toward resolving the roadless debate. This rule recognizes that a broad dictate over 60 million acres is simply unacceptable. By empowering states to offer suggestions on the management of roadless area in their states, the Forest Service can craft management plans to local conditions, reflecting local priorities while maintaining the lands for everyone.'' —Statement issued by Idaho's congressional delegation.

"We are extremely disappointed that the new Bush plan fails to provide adequate protection for the last roadless areas in the country. These areas are some of the most important areas for fish and wildlife. They provide far and away the best hunting and fishing opportunities in the country.'' —Jonathan Oppenheimer of the Boise-based Idaho Conservation League.

MONTANA:

"It's a complete betrayal of the trust, the promises the Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture made to keep our backcountry lands intact. ... Our hope is that the governor will prevent this senseless assault on Montana's heritage.'' —John Gatchell, conservation director with the Montana Wilderness Association

"The Bush administration has put subsidizing timber companies ahead of clean drinking water and wildlife habitat.'' —Michael Garrity, executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies.

"We welcome our opportunity to provide input and we won't be shy about providing it.'' —Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer.

NEVADA:

"While this has been a volatile issue nationally, I'm in favor of this policy change because I strongly believe in state's rights. I look forward to seeing the details of the new roadless designation rule which sounds like a more reasonable and measured approach than the one it's replacing.'' —Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn.

"This action is one of the biggest environmental rollbacks by the Bush administration. ... Roadless areas provide some of the best fishing and hunting in the West. — Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

NEW MEXICO:

"The Bush Administration has provided a way to deal with the roadless issue that empowers states. I was deeply disappointed with the Clinton Administration's attempt to shut out state and local voices in the management of federal roadless land.'' —Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

"This is a classic example of the Bush administration trashing our democracy and trashing our forests. Today, the clean drinking water, wildlife and recreational opportunities of our wild forests are severely damaged.'' —Bryan Bird, forest program coordinator for Forest Guardians, a Santa Fe, N.M.-based environmntal group.

OREGON:

"This administration is not replacing or doing away with the Clinton rule. They're coming up with a process to protect and manage these important areas, because for the last couple years there has been no rule.'' —Chris West with Portland, Ore.-based American Forest Resource Council, who noted that in 2003 a federal judge ruled that the Clinton rule was illegal.

UTAH:

"I can't say that we're shocked given this administration, but this is really a travesty of a policy. In the course of the process that led to the roadless rule, about four million comments were collected and they were overwhelmingly in favor of protecting the land.'' —Heidi McIntosh, conservation director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.

"This rule gives great flexibility to governors to respond on a forest-by-forest basis. It also allows the needs and concerns of local communities to be addressed.'' —Mike Styler, executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources.

WASHINGTON:

"The administration couldn't hear thunder in a quiet room. The public has said very clearly they want these areas protected. They are special places. People understand that pristine forests are unusual, they are rare, they are unique. "They have said by the millions that they want them protected.'' —Todd True with Seattle-based Earthjustice.

"We value our national forest roadless areas in Washington state. They are important habitat for endangered fish and wildlife, help provide clean water and opportunities for recreation and solitude, and contribute to the wonderful natural environment we enjoy in the Pacific Northwest. We hope to have most, if not all, of our national forest roadless areas in Washington protected.'' —Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire.

WYOMING:

"This procedural rule change does not alter any of the existing Forest Service planning criteria, regulations or law. It is a cosmetic attempt to appear to act without any real change. This is really a costly exercise in futility for the states and a mechanism for the Forest Service to deflect political pressure. I frankly wish they would have spent their efforts on making the planning process more effective and efficient for the average citizen rather than adding another layer.'' —Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal.

"I think it would really help a lot of these small communities that rely on it. ... We would like to see it for the plain and simple reason the town was very dependent on logging.'' —Mary Pigg, co-owner of RJR Logging in Saratoga, Wyo., which has not had any business for nearly years because the lack of logging forced area sawmills to close.