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 Moira Chapin, Environment California Field
Organizer. “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 4.414 million
acres of national forests in California,
including the Los Padres, San Bernardino,
and Angeles national forests, 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.
For more information, please contact Moira Chapin, 213-675-7416 (mobile)
