US Moves to Repeal 25-Year Forest Roadless Rule
The proposal would shift decisions to local forest managers and could open about 44 million acres to road construction and logging, officials said.
- On Tuesday, the Trump administration proposed rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule, a move that would open nearly 45 million acres of national forest to road construction, logging, and other development across 37 states.
- Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the proposal restores authority to local forest managers, arguing that removing outdated restrictions will improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk to communities.
- Environmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council argue the rescission increases wildfire risk, citing studies showing human-caused ignitions are four times more likely in areas with roads than roadless forests.
- Forests currently provide drinking water to 180 million Americans, and critics warn that development could degrade watersheds while harming local economies relying on recreation spots like the Appalachian Trail.
- The Agriculture Department opened a 30-day public comment period ending September 21, as the timber industry seeks to develop projects on millions of acres of old-growth trees previously protected from commercial logging.
246 Articles
246 Articles
Trump To End Roadless Rule
I have two basic theses about the Trump era. The first is that Donald Trump is the worst person in American history. The second is that Donald Trump is really just implementing the same Republican policy demands that conservatives have fought over for 50 years or more. Everything going on with the environment is very much the latter. Republicans always hated the Roadless Rule, to keep areas of our national forests that are presently roadless in …
‘Roadless Rule’ Would Open National Forests to Logging
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the U.S. Forest Service has filed a proposed rule to rescind in its entirety the national 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a one-size-fits-all restriction that has frustrated land managers and served as a barrier to wildfire risk reduction work across large swaths of America’s national forests. According to USDA: “Our forests can’t afford another decade of inaction. Across the country, we…
NH Reaction Mixed on Trump Plans To Dismantle Roadless Rule on National Forest
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org CONCORD – While the New Hampshire House of Representatives passed a resolution to support keeping the federal Roadless Rule on the 230,000 acres of White Mountain National Forest this past March, the Trump Administration is going forward with plans to dismantle the 2001 measure calling it a “one-size-fits-all” approach.Some in New Hampshire, like the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association and the Forest Society…
Michigan Advance
The Herald PalladiumProposed repeal of ‘Roadless Rule’ could open Michigan national forests to logging, roadbuilding
Overlook from the Trap Hills within the Ottawa National Forest, Western U.P. (Laina G. Stebbins/Michigan Advance)Thousands of acres of currently protected national forest land in Michigan could be opened to road construction and logging under a proposal from the U.S. Forest Service to rescind a 25-year-old rule. The 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which restricts road construction and timber harvesting in designated roadless areas, current…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
