The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is holding a series of open houses around the state in July and August to get public comments on how the state's roadless areas should be managed.  AZGFD will also be accepting written comments until August 31.  The information gathered will be used by Governor Napolitano and AGFD to develop recommendations to be presented to the U.S. Forest Service for managing the 1.2 million acres of roadless areas in our six national forests

Governor Napolitano must petition the federal government to protect Arizona roadless areas, which will safeguard our remaining remote and wild places. These lands are crucial to protecting our forest watersheds, guarding against dangerous wild fire, and preserving recreational opportunities like hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping, and protecting wildlife and their habitat. Please make your voice heard on this important issue.

Comments may be emailed to roadless@azgfd.gov or mailed to Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attention: Roadless Petition Comment, 2221 W. Greenway Rd., Phoenix, Arizona 85023. Deadline: August 31, 2006

Below are the dates and locations for the open houses.

All open houses will be held from 6-9 p.m. on the following dates and will provide information on the roadless areas in the national forest land listed in parenthesis:

Wednesday, July 5 - Safford (Coronado/Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests), Graham County General Service Bldg. 921 Thatcher Blvd., Safford.

Thursday, July 6 - Tucson (Coronado National Forest), Arizona Game and Fish Department Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road, Tucson.

Monday, July 10 - Phoenix (all National Forests), Arizona State Fairgrounds Wildlife Building, 19th Ave. and McDowell Road, Phoenix.

Tuesday, July 11 - Mesa (Tonto National Forest), Arizona Game and Fish Department Mesa regional office, 7200 East University Dr., Mesa.

Wednesday, July 12 - Payson (Tonto/Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests), Payson Inn Conference Room, 801 N. Beeline Highway, Payson.

Thursday, July 13 - Globe (Tonto National Forest), Gila County Fairgrounds, 3 miles north of Globe on Highway 60, Globe.

Tuesday, July 18 - Kingman (Prescott National Forest): Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road, Kingman.

Thursday, July 20 - Prescott (Prescott National Forest), Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Office, 1015 Fair St., Prescott.

Tuesday, July 25 - Springerville-Eagar (Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests), Eagar Town Council Chambers, 174 S. Main St., Eagar.

Wednesday, July 26 - Pinetop (Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests), Arizona Game and Fish Department Pinetop regional office; 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd., Pinetop.

Tuesday, Aug. 8 - Flagstaff (Coconino/Kaibab National Forests), Radisson Woodlands Hotel, 1175 West Route 66, Flagstaff.

Wednesday, Aug. 9 - Fredonia (Kaibab National Forest), Fredonia Courthouse Building, 110 North Main St., Fredonia.

To read a recent editorial on this issue click here.

For more information from Arizona Game and Fish please click here.