Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Roadless Rule on 45 Million Acres of National Forest

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the Trump administration has proposed repealing the "roadless rule" implemented by the U.S. Forest Service. This federal policy, in effect for 25 years, has prohibited road construction, logging, and other development activities on nearly 45 million acres of national forest land.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated in a press release that the rule has restricted the Forest Service's scope for road building and timber management, leading to overgrown forests, disease spread, and increased susceptibility to deadly wildfires. The administration believes that repealing this nationwide regulation would delegate decision-making authority to local levels. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte expressed that this "long-overdue decision" would allow states like Montana to consider local community interests when managing federal lands.

Last fall, more than 30 forest science researchers rebutted the administration's claims in a joint letter. Their analysis showed that across all Forest Service-managed lands over the past 30 years, wilderness and roadless areas had the lowest wildfire ignition density, while the highest number of ignitions occurred on lands near roads. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, nearly 85% of wildfires are caused by human activities.

The vast majority of areas subject to this rule are located in national forests in the West and Alaska. In Montana, the roadless rule protects nearly 6 million acres of federal public land, including nearly 10 million acres within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Scott Christensen, executive director of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, pointed out that roadless areas are critical habitat for elk, mule deer, trout, and grizzly bears; the federal government is proposing to transfer grizzly bear management to the states while simultaneously removing land protections that helped grizzlies recover from endangered status. Research shows that bears actively avoid roads and respond negatively to increased road density. Christensen believes that opening road development across millions of acres in the region would "eliminate one of the foundational elements of grizzly bear recovery: secure habitat."

Wildlife conservation groups warn that repealing the rule could also threaten many other species. Studies have found that 57% of species of conservation concern depend on habitat in at least one roadless area; road construction would fragment habitats and disrupt migration routes for elk and pronghorn.

Public support for retaining the rule is high. Of the more than 625,000 comments received during the public comment period last fall, 99% opposed the repeal proposal. A Pew national survey earlier this year showed that 76% of likely voters support keeping the rule; a concurrent University of Montana poll of state residents also showed broad bipartisan support for retention.

Jenny Harbine, an attorney with the legal nonprofit Earthjustice, stated that this is the latest in a series of Trump administration actions targeting public lands and wildlife policies. She said repealing the rule would "harm water quality, wildlife, and backcountry recreation opportunities—public land values that Montanans cherish," and added that if the administration finalizes the proposal, "we'll see them in court."

The repeal proposal and the Forest Service's draft environmental impact statement are scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on August 20, with the Forest Service accepting public comments until September 21.