Trump Administration Moves to Repeal "Roadless Rule"

Photo: George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty Image

Since 2001, the Federal Policy known as the “Roadless Rule” has protected millions of acres of wild lands from road development and logging — to the delight of conservationists but the ire of the timber industry. The Trump Administration’s Department of Agriculture (USDA) filed its notice of intent to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule. The Trump administration says the rule is blocking crews from wildfire prevention work, including thinning forests and exterminating insects, as well as fighting fires.

Since 2001, more neighborhoods have been built near roadless areas "alongside increased insect and disease and wildfire activity throughout the National Forest System," the USDA's proposal states.

However, multiple studies have shown that roads are themselves associated with increased risk of wildfires.

Meanwhile, roadless areas generally aren't practical for forest management work such as thinning trees, said Tim Peterson, cultural landscapes director for Grand Canyon Trust.

"If we're serious about wildfire mitigation, we need to focus on ... places near where homes are built and where people live," said Peterson. "Roadless areas, for the most part, especially in Utah, are remote backcountry places where spending fire mitigation dollars is … wasteful."

The Roadless Rule allows crews to build roads in protected areas to address any "imminent threat" to public safety, including fires.

In Utah, regional forest managers have granted every request "to build a temporary road or dozer line to fight fires," Peterson said.

Rescinding the rule would open about 4 million acres of Utah's forests to logging and road construction — about half of the land in its national forests.

Additionally, the Trump administration also says the rule is hindering the logging industry and limiting economic opportunity in rural areas.

"Utah alone estimates the roadless rule alone creates a 25% decrease in economic development in the forestry sector," the USDA wrote in a June news release.

In reality, when the Roadless Rule was implemented, the U.S. Forest Service estimated it would cause a statewide loss of 59 jobs related to timber harvesting.

Let your voice be heard by submitting your comments by September 19 here: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FS-2025-0001-0001

Although the decision ultimately rests with USDA, our members of Congress can influence the outcome, so be sure to forward your comments to them as well.

Source: AXIOS Salt Lake City