Obama Administration Defends Roadless Rule

Victory

Appeals Wyoming court ruling blocking rule

Contacts

Jim Angell, Earthjustice, (720) 272-1179 

The Obama administration today appealed a Wyoming federal district court ruling that struck down the national roadless rule.  The appeal will go to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.


The 2001 rule protected 58.5 million acres of America’s pristine roadless national forest lands. Since then about 9 million acres of roadless lands in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska were withdrawn under a temporary rule crafted by the Bush/Cheney administration in 2003. Another 9 million were later withdrawn when the state of Idaho crafted its own roadless rule. 


Statement of Earthjustice attorney Jim Angell:


“The roadless areas in our national forests are the last, best natural areas in America and deserve protection.  We welcome the Obama administration to the effort to protect these areas. We hope the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals will agree that the Wyoming ruling blocking the roadless rule was wrong. The Obama administration is honoring its commitment to uphold and defend nationwide roadless area protections.”

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