Circuit Court Upholds Roadless Forest Policy Again
"One prong of the administration's efforts to undo forest protections in this country has now been officially turned back. The Roadless Rule is once again the law of the land," said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife. "Today's court decision echos the overwhelming opposition to the administration's forest policy announced today by members of Congress, scientists and the public."
The Roadless Rule protects the remaining 58.5 million acres of roadless areas in U.S. national forests. On December 12th, a panel of three judges from the Ninth Circuit overturned a lower court injunction prohibiting the Roadless Rule from taking effect.. Idaho and Boise Cascade immediately appealed for the entire Ninth Circuit to rehear this case. Today, the Ninth Circuit refused, reaffirming the legality of the Roadless Rule and cementing the loss for Idaho, Boise Cascade, and the administration, which declined to defend the Roadless Rule against industry lawsuits.
Today is also the final day for public comment on the administration's proposal to radically redirect U.S. forest policy through changes to National Forest Management Act regulations. Earlier today, Rep. Nick Joe Rahall (D - W.Va.) released a letter from 107 members of congress to the White House urging withdrawal of the proposal. The congressional message came on top of a similar letter from 325 scientists and comments on the rule from more than 100,000 Americans.
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Defenders of Wildlife is a leading non-profit conservation organization recognized as one of the nation’s most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat, with nearly 500,000 members and supporters across the nation, 120,000 of which are in California. Defenders is dedicated to preserving wildlife and emphasizing appreciation and protection for all species in their ecological role within the natural environment. Defenders is actively involved in species protection and restoration efforts throughout the nation. Please visit www.defenders.org.
Contact(s):
Brad DeVries, (202) 772-0237
