Sierra Club Washington Chapter Statement on Gutting of Roadless Rule Protections

SEATTLE — Today, the USDA Forest Service released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the proposed repeal of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, with a 30-day public comment period opening Aug. 20. During this time, the public can urge the Forest Service to maintain the rule that protects undeveloped forests across the country, including parts of Mount Baker-Snoqualmie, Olympic, Gifford Pinchot, Colville, Umatilla, and Okanogan-Wenatchee national forests.

The USDA’s proposed rule would rescind the Roadless Rule in its entirety, removing protections from nearly two million acres of unspoiled forests in Washington, opening them to road building, mining, drilling, and logging. Wildfire is noted as a reason to rescind the rule. However, studies show that wildfires are four times more likely to ignite near roads, while the Roadless Rule has always allowed for legitimate and necessary actions to reduce hazardous fuels. 

In response, Sierra Club Washington Chapter released the following statements:

“The Trump administration is pushing to gut the Roadless Rule despite the massive outcry from Americans to protect our public lands and retain the rule. Much of our remaining old-growth forests, as well as protected wildlife habitats and clean drinking water, still exist thanks to the Roadless Rule. These roadless areas protect drinking water for many communities and nearly a half million Washingtonians. It would be a devastating mistake to throw out such a successful, common-sense policy that has kept industrial development out of our pristine forests for decades. This is a critical moment for not only those of us in the northwest, but people across the country, to speak up and ensure our country has wildlands for future generations to enjoy.”

— Ben Avery, Chapter Director, Sierra Club Washington

“Here in the Evergreen State, we know that our roadless forests are crucial to not just the ecological integrity of our environment, but to who we are and how we live. These are the areas where we recreate; where we hunt and fish; where we build memories with our families; and where we pass on culture and tradition. From Lake Quinault to the Kettle Range; Mt. Baker to Silver Star—the Roadless Rule has been essential to their protection. This includes protection from wildfire, since we know the majority of wildfires are human caused and that ignition risk increases in proximity to roads. We encourage all Washingtonians to submit their public comments to defend these special places against this latest attempt by Donald Trump to open our public lands to corporate plunder.”

— Mariska Kecskes, Advocacy Director, Sierra Club Washington

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

The Roadless Area Conservation Rule was enacted in 2001 to protect nearly 60 million acres of national forests across 36 states and Puerto Rico. In June 2025, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the administration’s plan to repeal the rule, which would open these wild landscapes to roads and development. A brief public comment period was held in the fall of 2025 and received more than 600,000 comments — 99% of which supported retaining the rule.  

The two-decade-old rule protects against new roadbuilding and the extractive industries that roads can lead to, such as logging and mining, in backcountry forestlands that have been undisturbed by major development. During the process that led to the original 2001 rule, the U.S. Forest Service held more than 600 public meetings over 18 months to help inform the policy. 

Roadless forests offer people a wide range of recreational activities, provide wildlife with much-needed habitat and range connectivity, and protect the headwaters of rivers, which are vital for maintaining clean drinking water nationwide. Rescinding the Roadless Rule would increase logging and other destructive, extractive development in public forests that currently function as intact ecosystems, benefiting wildlife and people alike.