Gem State Gov. Jim Risch has taken a thoughtful, well-researched approach, while Beehive State Gov. Jon Huntsman wants to turn over protection and management of sensitive roadless areas to development-hungry county commissions.

Under a Bush administration policy that negates a Clinton-era roadless rule protecting 58 million acres of national forests nationwide, states must submit plans for these backcountry treasures. However, U.S. District Judge Elizabeth LaPorte has declared that the Bush policy failed to include adequate environmental reviews, so the eventual outcome is uncertain.

In its petition, Idaho protects 3.1 million roadless acres, while allowing limited development of 6 million acres, primarily to maintain the health of the forests to reduce wildfires, disease and insect infestation. It follows the spirit of the Clinton rule and in one instance is more restrictive.

California and Colorado petitions maintain nearly all areas that are currently roadless.

Huntsman's petition, not yet sent to Washington, provides absolutely no roadless designations. It would, instead, create advisory boards of local and state officials, who favor grazing, mining, motorized recreation and oil and gas development, to micromanage Forest Service decisions.

The governor is abdicating his responsibility to analyze the state's 8 million acres of forests and offer a reasonable plan that protects the most sensitive ones and restricts development in others. His destructive plan to open up all previous inventories of roadless forest lands to development is a sellout of Utah's fragile national forests.

These unique and invaluable areas provide vital wildlife habitat and watershed, as well as opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking and other outdoor recreation, the lifeblood of Utah's vast tourism industry.

Huntsman and Risch agree there should be more local say in forest management, but Huntsman's do-nothing decision puts him in a camp by himself. It's a place other Western governors, for good reason, don't want to be.