US counties divided over proposal to rescind Roadless Rule

Local governments in Oregon and Montana are expressing conflicting views regarding a proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This federal rule currently prohibits the construction of new road infrastructure on certain national lands overseen by the USDA Forest Service.

In Oregon, Union County Commissioner Paul Anderes drafted a personal letter to the USDA calling for the rule's rescindment. Anderes argued that the rule acts as a way to circumvent the Congressional process for designating wilderness areas and that access to national forest lands is a right for citizens, particularly those with deep cultural ties to federal lands.

Conversely, Missoula County in Montana has formally stated its opposition to rescinding the rule. Jenny Zaso, the county's open lands manager, noted that the roadless lands within the Lolo and Bitterroot national forests are vital for protecting watersheds, supporting fisheries, and bolstering the local recreation economy. The county also challenged the idea that removing protections would reduce wildfire risks, citing research that suggests roads can actually increase wildfire ignition risks.