Heritage Forests Campaign News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2006

CONTACT:
Dave Bard - 202.486.4426
John Anthony - 202.277.2103

Statement of Robert C. Vandermark, Director, Heritage Forests Campaign

On a Federal Judge Overturning the Bush Roadless Rule and Reinstating the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule

"The reversal of the Bush administration's rule is a great victory for the American people who have spoken out, time and again and in record number, for protection of these lands.

"As of today, all of our national forests with roadless areas, except one, will be protected.

"Today's ruling found that the Bush administration acted illegally in reversing the 2001 roadless rule which opened up tens of millions of acres on our last wild national forests to logging and road construction. The administration repealed the 2001 rule and replaced it with a cumbersome and uncertain state-by-state process that required governors to petition the administration, if they wanted to protect their lands. The final decision on protection, however, would be left to administration officials.

"This ruling takes management of these public lands out of the hands of special interests and gives it back to the public, who made it resoundingly clear that these lands should remain intact."

###

For more information, read the decision [PDF].