2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule To Be Enforced

Long legal battle settles fate of 2 million acres in Oregon, 58 million acres nationwide.

Federal court has ended a long fought battle over millions of acres of undeveloped backcountry.
 
In 2001 the Clinton administration approved a measure that would protect millions of acres nationwide of otherwise unprotected backcountry. But it was challenged and run through the legal system. Oregon WILD spokesman Rob Klavins explains why the Roadless Area Conservation Rule hasn't been enforced over the last ten years.
 
Klavins- "The Bush administration tried several different tactics to undermine and ultimately get rid of the rule. In some cases they tried to start state specific processes. They also files lawsuits around the country trying to say the rule was illegal or that the rule didn't follow the right process." 
 
But today, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the final challenge to the 2001 rule. Klavins says the new rule doesn't allow companies to commercially log or build roads into remaining unprotected roadless areas.
 
Klavins- "You can still co hiking, fishing, camping, all sorts of different activities are allowed. And what was good about the rule is it doesn't reduce current levels of access in any way. And it did allow for common sense exemptions for protecting public safety, protecting private land access, and also for forest health."
 
The Roadless Rule protects 2 million acres in Oregon and 60 million acres nationwide.