Heritage Forests Campaign: Threats to Our Roadless Areas

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Over 250,000 Americans Ask Forest Service to Reinstate Forest Protections

Olympians Join Effort to End Bush Administration's Logging and Drilling Efforts

More than 250,000 Americans have formally petitioned the Bush administration to reinstate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule and reverse one of the administration's most controversial environmental decisions. In an unprecedented move, conservationists, concerned Americans and over 100 current and former Olympians employed the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) to petition for a policy reversal.

This unusual step was necessary after the Bush administration failed to honor the overwhelming public support for retaining the 2001 rule evidenced during a public comment period drive. The petition announcement comes as pressure mounts in Congress, the courts and the general public to reinstate the protections that limited logging, drilling, and other destructive activities on nearly 60 million acres of wild national forests.

Find out more:

On March 2, 2006, Senators Cantwell and Bingaman introduced the Roadless Conservation Act of 2006. Find out more from this press release and "Dear Colleague" letter about the bill.
HFC's press release about the petition
Breakdown of petition signatures by state
Letter and quotes from Olympic athletes who support protecting our last wild forests 130 world-class U.S. athletes (including over 100 Olympians who hold 50 Olympic medals between them) signed the petition
About the petition: Supporting letter and petition language
Last August, the States of California, Oregon, and New Mexico filed a legal challenge to the Administration's actions. They have since been joined by Washington, Montana and Maine.
1. Legal brief California, New Mexico and Oregon
2. Legal brief Washington (part 1, part 2 and part 3)
3. Legal brief Montana and Maine
Roadless areas under threat:
1. Sage Creek (Idaho) description and press coverage
2. Emerald Bay (Alaska) press release, fact sheet and timber sale info center with photos
3. Echo Trail Project (Minnesota)
Economic fact sheet
Roadless Chronology