Rollins Rescinds Roadless Rule

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins is rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule.  Rescinding the rule will remove prohibitions on road construction, reconstruction, and timber harvest on nearly 59 million acres of the National Forest System, which the Secretary said will allows for fire prevention and responsible timber production.  In total, 30% of National Forest System lands are impacted by the rule.

“This move opens a new era of consistency and sustainability for our nation’s forests,” said Rollins. “It is abundantly clear that properly managing our forests preserves them from devastating fires and allows future generations of Americans to enjoy and reap the benefits of this great land.”

Northwest Lawmaker Has Issue With Rollin's Decision

However, following Tuesday's announcement by the USDA Oregon Representative Andrea Salinas and Arizona's Yassamin Ansari issued a joint statement:

“We are deeply disappointed by the Trump Administration’s damaging decision to roll back critical environmental protections for nearly 60 million acres of our nation’s most pristine forests.

"For more than two decades, the Roadless Rule has provided commonsense guidelines to protect critical untouched ecosystems within our national forests without jeopardizing wildfire prevention and response. The Administration’s decision is a bad deal for our climate, threatened species, and for all of us who cherish America’s natural wonders.

"Together, we introduced the Roadless Area Conservation Act to codify the Roadless Rule and ensure consistent, dependable protections for these critical landscapes. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to reverse this disastrous decision.” 

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com