Amy Dominguez, Amy.Dominguez@sierraclub.org
Today, the Trump administration announced it is repealing the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This measure conserves more than 58 million acres of National Forest lands by preventing road building, hardrock mining, oil and gas and industrial logging, and was one of the most popular rules in U.S. history after an extensive public process to generate more than 1.6 million comments. Ninety-five percent of the public supported the rule, at a time when the Forest Service was facing an $8 billion backlog in road maintenance, and significant environmental damage from failing roads.
The Roadless Rule includes more than 4.2 million acres of National Forest lands in Wyoming. These are some of the best wildlands for hiking, wildlife viewing, skiing, biking, hunting and fishing in Montana. And while the Trump administration and Gov. Mark Gordon say otherwise, these areas are open to targeted projects to reduce the risk of wildfire, while preventing permanent road construction and industrial development.
In response to the repeal, Kelsey Yarzab Yates, Acting Chapter Director for Sierra Club in Wyoming, issued the following statement:
"This is an historic upheaval of common-sense, bipartisan policy that keeps some of our most iconic public lands and hunting opportunities protected for future generations. Wyomingites don't want to see their favorite places cut up and developed, clearcut, or mined. Repealing this rule only will increase wildfire risk and hurt ecosystems. We can develop the state's economy without sacrificing these lands to the highest bidder."
###
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.