Letter: Roadless and Bikeless?
The public has until Sept. 21 to weigh in as opponents warn the change could open 66 million acres to logging and development.
- The United States Forest Service has started the process to roll back the Roadless Rule, a regulation protecting 66 million acres of National Forest land from logging and development.
- Brooke Rollins of the United States Department of Agriculture claimed outdated restrictions prevent necessary forest treatments. She stated the rollback aims to reduce wildfire risks and improve forest health.
- Environmental advocate Will Harlan of the Center for Biological Diversity opposes the rollback, calling roadless areas "the backbone of our outdoor recreation economy." He argues these lands protect critical wildlife habitat and climate resilience.
- Public comments remain open until September 21, 2026, on the proposed rollback. Analysis by the Center for Western Priorities found 99% of previous comments opposed weakening the existing Roadless Rule protections.
- The Roadless Rule protects 172,000 acres in North Carolina across 32 roadless areas, including parts of Linville Gorge and South Mills River. These regions provide essential water quality benefits to downstream communities.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Trump administration advances plan to open national forests to development
The Trump administration is proposing to rescind the “roadless rule,” a 25-year-old policy that bars development like road construction and logging on nearly 45 million acres of national forest land, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday. In a press release, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said the rule has led to overgrown and diseased forests […]
Repealing the Roadless Rule is a bad deal for Montanans
Like many longtime Montanans, I view public lands as my second paycheck. While they don’t literally pay my bills, the boundless opportunities they provide for me to fish, hunt, hike, paddle and ski are what have kept me here for…
Letter to the editor: Our lands, our access: Why it’s time to repeal the Roadless Rule
Public lands belong to all Americans, not just the select few with the physical ability or financial means to backpack for miles into the deep wilderness. Yet, under the restrictive confines of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, millions of acres…
Trump administration moving forward with plans to remove roadless forest protections
The United States Forest Service is proposing to rollback the Roadless Rule, which currently protects 66 million acres of National Forest land, including critical areas in North Carolina's Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, sparking widespread opposition from local communities and environmental advocates.
Letter: Roadless and bikeless?
President Donald Trump has proposed rescinding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The recission would allow the construction of roads through 58 million acres of federal land. My understanding is that the Vancouver City Council will not vote on this issue until it learns if bike lanes will be attached to all the roads.
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- 62% of the sources are Center
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