WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has rescinded the Roadless Rule, a 2001 regulation that limited road construction and logging on nearly 59 million acres of National Forest land.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the decision Monday during a meeting of the Western Governors’ Association in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Rollins said the Roadless Rule contradicted the USDA Forest Service’s mandate to manage forests for health, productivity, and fire prevention.
The rule change lifts restrictions on road construction, reconstruction, and timber harvests in previously protected areas. Rollins said the decision will support wildfire mitigation efforts and responsible timber production. Critics argue the move prioritizes industry interests and threatens protected ecosystems.
The Roadless Rule was established in 2001 under President Bill Clinton to preserve undeveloped public lands. The USDA’s formal rescission process is now underway.
The policy change is expected to face legal challenges from environmental groups. Local forest managers will now have greater discretion to approve road and timber projects in areas previously off-limits.