U.S. Forest Service's Analysis Says Repealing Roadless Rule Would Allow only 'Modest' Fuel Treatment, While Increasing Risk
The draft says repeal would expand road building but only modestly increase wildfire fuel treatments while raising the risk of human-caused ignitions.
- On Tuesday, the Trump administration advanced a formal proposal to rescind the 25-year-old Roadless Rule, continuing a plan unveiled last year to open more than 44 million acres of national forestland to road construction and timber harvesting.
- Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the repeal aims to "restore authority" to local forest managers, arguing that "outdated restrictions" have prevented essential treatments like removing fire-prone dead timber.
- The administration projects the plan could generate $5.2 million to $11.4 million in federal revenues, though officials acknowledge economic benefits face tempering by a $6.9 billion deferred maintenance backlog for roads and bridges.
- U.S. Forest Service analysis warns the proposal could lead to increased ignitions, as research shows wildfire ignition density is highest within 50 meters of roads, contradicting administration claims.
- Following last year's unpopular notice that drew more than 600,000 public comments, the proposal now opens a 30-day public comment period with a final deadline of September 21.
12 Articles
12 Articles
The Wildfire Paradox: How New Roads Could Ignite More Forests
The post The Wildfire Paradox: How New Roads Could Ignite More Forests appeared first on A-Z Animals.For over 25 years, 44 million acres within the National Forest System have been protected and untouched by infrastructure, thanks to the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. However, that may change after the USDA announced plans to rescind the Roadless Rule, citing fire management as the reason. USDA Takes Steps to Rescind the 2001 Roadless Are…
Trump administration plan could bring new roads to pristine woods covering 4% of Wyoming
The Trump administration unveiled a plan Wednesday to build more roads in pristine national forests, releasing figures that show near-term construction of new motorized networks would be possible across almost 4% of Wyoming, an area the size of the entire Shoshone National Forest. The plan – which rescinds the 2001 National Forest Roadless Rule – would affect 3.2 million acres of national forest roadless areas in the Equality State. That roadles…
Trump administration advances plan to rescind ‘Roadless Rule’ protecting national forests
The Trump administration on Tuesday advanced a formal proposal to rescind a decades-old rule that protects more than 44 million acres of national forestland from road construction and timber harvesting, including about 4.4 million acres in California. The post Trump administration advances plan to rescind ‘Roadless Rule’ protecting national forests appeared first on West Hawaii Today.
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