The Roadless Area Conservation Rule ("Roadless Rule"), established in 2001, protects nearly 60 million acres of National Forest land across the country from most road construction, timber harvesting, and development. In California, this rule safeguards 4.4 million acres of wild landscapes, including 18 different areas within the San Bernardino National Forest, from the front country around San Bernardino to the peaks around Big Bear and the mountains above Palm Springs.

This policy has been under attack from the White House since June of last year, when Secretary Rollins announced that the USDA would rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule despite the immense ecological, cultural, and recreational importance of our forests. This unfortunate and misguided action is yet another attempt to sell off our national public lands to the highest bidder by removing protections and facilitating extraction or even outright sell off.

The proposed rescission raises concerns among scientists, outdoor enthusiasts, and surrounding communities who worry that it would devastate public lands, threaten the ecological and recreational values of these areas, and greatly increase the risk of wildfire in Southern California. The Roadless Rule has been broadly popular, was established with robust public input, and offers flexible protections that allow for necessary active management.

The USDA has published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Proposed Rule on August 20th. A short comment period of only 33 days is now open. You can voice your support for the Roadless Rule before the comment period closes at midnight on September 21st.