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2 clusters · 6 sources · 6 days · First seen · Last updated

US proposal to repeal Roadless Rule

Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proposed a full repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule, which has protected approximately 44 to 45 million acres of undeveloped national forest land from road construction, commercial logging, and mining for nearly 25 years.

The administration argues that rescinding the rule is necessary to improve forest health, manage disease outbreaks, reduce wildfire risks, and remove “unnecessary barriers” to public recreation. In Wyoming specifically, the proposal includes opening roughly 6.2 million acres to increased motorized access, such as e-bikes and ATVs.

Environmental groups, scientists, and lawmakers have raised significant opposition. Critics warn that the changes could lead to soil erosion, degraded water quality in vital watersheds, and increased uranium mining. There are also concerns regarding the ecological health of wildlife habitats and the potential for increased wildfire ignition density near new roads. The public comment period for the proposal is scheduled to close on September 21.

Entities

U.S. Forest Service · U.S. Department of Agriculture · National Parks Conservation Association · Wyoming Wilderness Association · Brooke Rollins

Timeline

  1. 9 days ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Trump administration proposes repeal of U.S. Roadless Rule

    The Trump administration proposes repealing the 2001 Roadless Rule, potentially opening 45 million acres of national forest to logging and road construction, sparking concerns over water and wildlife.

  2. 15 days ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    USDA proposes repealing Roadless Rule and expanding forest access

    The USDA is proposing to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule and expand motorized access to millions of acres of U.S. national forests, sparking criticism from conservationists over environmental impacts.

Sources

azcapitoltimes.com · aztrail.org · capitalpress.com · news.mongabay.com · oars.com · oilcity.news