Dismantling the Roadless Rule Threatens Beloved Oregon Wild Places

By Isobel Charle, Public News Service

Conservation groups said the proposed removal of the federal Roadless Rule would open pristine areas of Oregon forests to commercial logging.

Adopted in 2001, the Roadless Rule safeguards nearly 60 million acres of pristine national forest land, including 2 million in Oregon, from roadbuilding and logging.

Erik Fernandez, wilderness program manager for the advocacy group Oregon Wild, said it is a reckless policy which would threaten areas around the Cascade Lakes, Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood, the McKenzie River and many others.

“It’s where you’ll find the best wildlife habitat, best old growth forest, hiking, fishing, hunting and camping opportunities,” Fernandez outlined. “The rescission of the roadless rule is the latest chapter in Trump’s war on public lands and nature.”

Federal officials said the rule’s removal will help land managers better protect communities from wildfires but research shows 90% of wildfires occur within half a mile of a road. A shortened three-week public comment period on the proposed policy change runs through Sept. 19.

Fernandez pointed out the public process to create the Roadless Rule was extensive, involving 600 public hearings across the country. More than 1.5 million comments were collected, almost all of which were in favor of creating roadless protections. He argued giving just 21 days for public comment to undo the rule is rushed.

“That lack of process continues the trend of the Trump administration,” Fernandez asserted. “Taking less time to do scientific review and taking the public out of public lands so that we have less say in how they’re managed.”

Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Ore., has introduced a bill to codify the Roadless Rule into law to prevent future rollbacks but Fernandez said it will take several years to work through Congress.