FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Judge Orders Halt to Roadless Area Development

In follow up ruling, Bush administration told to scrap plans to drill, mine, log, and build roads in pristine wild areas

Federal judge orders halt to dozens of oil and gas drilling projects in roadless wild areas; ruling adds protection for Oregon unspoiled roadless areas in Oregon.

Wildlands around Mount Hood

Portland, OR - In a final opinion released yesterday, a federal judge ruled that the Forest Service and Bush administration must halt plans to mine, log, drill, and build roads in pristine national forest roadless areas.  The ruling puts an abrupt stop to more than 300 controversial oil and gas leases issued by the US Forest Service over the last few years. The ruling also halts the Coal Creek-Big Creek Road Project in Idaho, as well as future commercial extraction in roadless wildlands.

“Today is another victory for the millions of Americans who voiced their support for our country’s roadless wildlands,” commented Steve Pedery, Conservation Director for Oregon Wild.  “Our unspoiled roadless areas should be havens for fish, wildlife, and families to enjoy outdoor recreation, not sacrifice zones for bulldozers and chainsaws.”

In a September 20, 2006 preliminary opinion, federal judge Elizabeth Laporte struck down the Bush administration’s repeal of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule because it violated both the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.  The popular conservation measure protected unspoiled areas in America’s national forests from logging, mining, road building, and other destructive activities while preserving the public’s right to enjoy these lands through activities like hunting, fishing, hiking, boating and camping.

The Bush administration had sought to replace the 2001 Roadless Rule with a complex and expensive state-by-state process that left the future of these wildlands in doubt.  After finding the Bush plan illegal, Judge Laporte reinstated the original 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, enacted during the Clinton administration after a two-year federal rule making process. 

Yesterday’s final ruling reaffirmed both earlier opinions while ordering an injunction against oil, gas, and road building projects currently being considered by the US Forest Service.  This ruling provides added security for the future of Oregon’s pristine roadless wildlands.

“Oregon’s roadless wildlands are an important part of what makes our state a special place,” observed Matthew Fisher, Wildlands Advocate for Oregon Wild.  “They are also important to Oregon’s outdoor recreation industry. Without these outstanding backcountry areas to recreate in, Oregon would be a much poorer place.”
 
Oregon has nearly 2 million acres of national forest roadless areas.  Governor Ted Kulongoski, who calls Oregon’s roadless wildlands, “priceless treasures,” was part of a multi-state lawsuit against the Bush administration’s now defunct roadless area policy.


Oregon Wild, keeping Oregon a special place to live, work, and raise a family since 1974.  Online at www.oregonwild.org <http://www.oregonwild.org>

###