U.S. Forest Service to hold a public meeting

As part of a series of nationwide meetings, Lake Tahoe's unit of the U.S. Forest Service plans to hold a public meeting today to obtain comments about President Clinton's proposal to protect 50 million acres of roadless forest areas throughout the country.

As much as 49,000 acres of Tahoe land could be affected.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. at the South Lake Tahoe Branch of the El Dorado County Library, 1000 Rufus Allen Boulevard.

Calling national forests "places of renewal of the human spirit," President Clinton last month announced steps to protect 50 million acres of federally owned roadless areas from development.

The Forest Service is in its initial scoping process, which ends Dec. 20, and then the agency will write a draft environmental document, which will be followed by another public comment period. A final decision likely will be reached about this time next year.