The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule that prohibits road construction and large-scale commercial logging on portions of the National Forest System.
Known as the Roadless Rule, it has protected 44.7 million acres of National Forest, mostly in Alaska and western U.S. states, for the past 24 years.
On Aug. 29, the Department of Agriculture announced the administration’s intention to rescind the rule and initiate an environmental review.
“This administration is dedicated to removing burdensome, outdated, one-size-fits-all regulations that not only put people and livelihoods at risk but also stifle economic growth in rural America,” Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said in a news release.
Rollins added that repealing the Roadless Rule would be consistent with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January, which called for a review of regulations across government agencies.
The USDA opened a public comment period on the plan. Comments must be received by Sept. 19, via the Federal Register at this link.
The updated rule is expected to be finalized in late 2026.
