Obama Administration Defends Roadless Rule
Victory
—Appeals Wyoming court ruling blocking rule
Contacts
Jim Angell, Earthjustice, (720) 272-1179
The Obama administration today appealed a Wyoming federal district court ruling that struck down the national roadless rule. The appeal will go to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.
The 2001 rule protected 58.5 million acres of America’s pristine roadless national forest lands. Since then about 9 million acres of roadless lands in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska were withdrawn under a temporary rule crafted by the Bush/Cheney administration in 2003. Another 9 million were later withdrawn when the state of Idaho crafted its own roadless rule.
Statement of Earthjustice attorney Jim Angell:
“The roadless areas in our national forests are the last, best natural areas in America and deserve protection. We welcome the Obama administration to the effort to protect these areas. We hope the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals will agree that the Wyoming ruling blocking the roadless rule was wrong. The Obama administration is honoring its commitment to uphold and defend nationwide roadless area protections.”
Additional Resources
About Earthjustice
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.