Environmental and outdoors groups have filed a lawsuit claiming that federal officials illegally added hundreds of miles of motor vehicle routes in the Pike and San Isabel National Forest in south-central Colorado.
The lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Denver says about 500 miles of routes were added to the forest's motor vehicle use maps without the required environmental review, including analysis of the potential impacts of more motor vehicles on recreation and wildlife. The groups note that the roughly 2 million-acre forest includes 19 of Colorado's highest peaks and gold-medal fishing streams.
The groups, including The Wilderness Society and Center for Native Ecosystems, want to block the Forest Service from implementing the maps.
The Forest Service couldn't be reached for comment after business hours Friday.
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