The USDA announced a proposed rule to fully repeal the U.S. Forest Service’s 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This rule currently protects 45 million acres of national forest lands from logging and roadbuilding, including more than 4 million acres within Utah.
Utah's roadless areas encompass parts of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache, Dixie, Fish Lake, Manti-La Sal, and Ashley national forests. These areas serve as refuge for wildlife such as elk, mule deer, wild turkey, and black bear.
The proposed repeal follows a Notice of Intent announced last August that received over 600,000 public comments, the majority of which opposed the measure. A final public comment period has been set for 30 days, with comments accepted until midnight on Sept. 21.
Research indicates that wildfires in Utah are three times more likely to start near a road than in roadless forests. While building roads into roadless areas may result in more frequent fires, the research suggests these fires will be smaller on average than those located farther from roads, though some may grow into large fires.
The Wilderness Society’s Utah State Director, Charlie Luke, stated that rolling back the Roadless Rule threatens Utahns' drinking water, clean air, wildlife habitat, and wildfire resilience. Luke described the decision to open these forests to more chances of ignition as irresponsible during a destructive wildfire season.
