Overview

• USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has initiated repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule, which currently restricts new roads, logging and mining on about 44.7 million acres of national forest lands.
• California could see roughly 4 million roadless acres opened to roadbuilding, including areas near Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Big Sur and parts of the Pacific Crest Trail.
• The administration frames the rollback as boosting timber and energy development and improving wildfire access, with Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz noting 8 million roadless acres have burned since 2001.
• Conservation groups argue the change threatens ecosystems, watersheds and recreation and cite research showing far higher human-caused fire ignitions near roads than in roadless areas.
• Opponents note the existing rule already allows emergency and limited management exceptions, and legal challenges are expected from groups such as Earthjustice after the comment period closes.