Trump administration moves to repeal protections against road construction in national forest roadless areas

The repeal could increase the risk of human-caused wildfires in remote areas, as federal research indicates that fire frequency is significantly higher near roads and human activity.

• •The administration plans to repeal the rule prohibiting road construction and logging in national forest roadless areas.
• •Over 4 million acres of federal forest land in California are affected by this potential policy change.
• •U.S. Forest Service research indicates that nearly two-thirds of human-caused fires in studied California forests originated along roads.
• •A study by The Wilderness Society found that wildfire probability is four times higher near roads in national forests nationwide.
• •The highest incidence of wildfires occurs within 50 meters of existing roads.
• •The public comment period for the proposal ends at midnight on September 21.
• •The administration states that the repeal does not automatically trigger logging or construction, but delegates decisions to local forest managers.
• •California officials report that 240,000 acres of roadless land in the state have already undergone vegetation management to reduce fire risk without needing new roads.
• •The proposal includes a draft environmental impact statement.
• •Critics argue that the move threatens watersheds and wildlife, and that the agency lacks resources to maintain existing roads.