Overview

• The USDA says it will publish a notice of intent in the Federal Register on Friday, with public comments accepted through Sept. 19.
• The rollback would end prohibitions on new road construction and commercial logging across about 44–45 million acres, with significant effects anticipated in Alaska.
• Colorado and Idaho’s state-specific roadless protections would remain in place, while the original 2001 rule covered roughly 58–59 million acres nationwide.
• In Texas, about 4,000 acres within Sam Houston National Forest could be opened to roadwork and timber harvest if the protections are rescinded.
• USDA and Forest Service leaders argue the change enables active management and improves wildfire response, while conservation groups warn of habitat fragmentation, water-quality risks, and vow legal challenges.