Judge Elizabeth Laporte of the Northern District of California today overturned the Bush administration’s repeal of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which protects nearly 60 million acres of pristine national forest lands in 42 states.
“The Bush administration took way too many short-cuts in their rush to clear cut,” said Lauren Ketcham, an environmental associate with Environment New Mexico. “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 in all 42 states first put in place in 2001 under a policy known as the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The Roadless Rule protects the last third of America's national forests while allowing 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.
Of the 9.3 million acres of national forest in New Mexico, nearly 1.6 million acres in the state are roadless. Affected areas in New Mexico include portions of Carson, Santa Fe, Cibola, Gila, Coronado and Lincoln national forests.
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 nationally and 20,000 comments in New Mexico.
“The Roadless Rule has been litigated time after time, and the rule keeps being upheld. The courts are behind it. The public is behind it. And our elected officials, like Governor Richardson who petitioned to protect New Mexico’s share of these roadless areas, is behind it. Today’s decision is a major victory for New Mexicans and our public lands,” concluded Ketcham.
