Judge Elizabeth Laporte of the Northern District of California today
overturned the Bush administration’s repeal of protections for nearly
60 million acres of pristine national forest lands.
“The
Bush administration took way too many short-cuts in their rush to clear
cut,” said Jennette Gayer, Environment Georgia Advocate. “Our most
pristine national forests are once again safe from destructive logging,
mining, and oil drilling.”
Judge Laporte found that the Bush administration’s rule violated the
National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and
Administrative Procedures Act.
The decision reinstates protections first put in place in
2001 under a policy known as the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The Roadless Rule protects 63,000
acres of forest in Georgia's scenic Chattahoochee National Forest and 58.5 million acres of forests
nationwide. The Roadless Rule allows for
new road construction in order to fight fires, ensure public safety, and allow
brush clearing to protect forest health. The Roadless Rule ensures that forests
will continue to provide clean drinking water, habitat for wildlife, and
endless opportunities for recreation and solitude.
The Roadless Rule is the most popular conservation
initiative in our nation's history, having already been supported by a
record-breaking 2.5 million public comments.
