FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2007

CONTACT:
Dave Bard,
202.486.4426

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

On Judge Brimmer's Denial Of Wyoming's Motion to Reinstate a Nationwide Injunction on the 2001 Roadless Rule

WASHINGTON Today, Judge Brimmer of the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming denied the state of Wyoming's motion to reinstate his prior ruling and nationwide injunction of the 2001 roadless rule. As a result, the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule remains the law of the land.

"Today's ruling from Judge Brimmer is welcome news for the overwhelming majority of Americans who want to preserve our last pristine national forest lands.

"We strongly support the passage of the recently-introduced congressional legislation that will codify the rule and ensure that roadless areas are permanently protected without jeopardy from changing administrations or continued courtroom wrangling.

"We hope the state of Wyoming will drop its campaign to undermine one of the most popular and balanced regulations in U.S. history.

"These wild forests are some of America's most treasured, pristine and irreplaceable backcountry areas and we can't afford to lose them. The courts have ruled and the American people have spoken. A national policy protecting all of America's roadless forests is the best way to preserve these last wild places."

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Click here to read the ruling