US Forest Service Starts Process To Rescind Roadless Rule Protection In Allegheny National Forest, Other Forests

The U.S. Forest Service has formally begun to rescind the 2001 “Roadless Rule” which protects 58.5 million acres of wild areas in national forests, including 25,000 acres in the Allegheny National Forest in Elk, Forest, McKean and Warren counties. 

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins initially announced plans to roll back these forest protections on June 23 at the Western Governor’s Association Meeting. 

To begin the official process, the agency will post a "Notice of Intent" to the Federal Register on Friday, at which point a 21-day public comment period will commence.

Enacted by President Bill Clinton in 2001, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule was the result of years of work and public input. 

The public comment period set a record with 1.6 million public comments submitted, and tens of thousands of people participated in hundreds of public meetings. 

The rule protects roadless areas from new road construction and prohibits commercial logging within their boundaries.

Pennsylvania has 25,000 acres of protected roadless area located within the half million acres of Allegheny National Forest.

In response, Stephanie Wein, clean water & conservation advocate for the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, issued the following statement:

“Pennsylvania’s wild forests are essential and beloved public lands, and the Forest Service should not open them up to roads and development.

“Allegheny National Forest is home to some of Pennsylvania’s most threatened and endangered species, from rare wildflowers to the majestic northern goshawk to our state amphibian, the eastern hellbender. 

“With the vast majority of Allegheny National Forest’s half million acres already open for logging, drilling and other extractive uses, it’s critical that our precious roadless areas are protected.

“Allegheny National Forest’s roadless areas are home to some of the most treasured spots for recreation, from the scenic views of Hearts Content to the fishing and hiking along Minister Creek. 

“Protecting these areas is far more important than building a new road or gaining a few extra wood products. Let’s keep our wild forests wild.”

Click Here for the PennEnvironment announcement.

Related Articles This Week:

-- Dept. of Drug & Alcohol Programs, DCNR Announces 9 PA State Parks As Recovery In Nature Sites 

-- DCNR Announces Sunday Hunting Plans In State Parks, Forests

-- DCNR Releases New Digital Trail Information Resources For 1,750+ Miles Of Trails Across 119 State Parks  [PaEN] 

-- US Forest Service Starts Process To Rescind Roadless Rule Protection In Allegheny National Forest, Other Forests  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- The Center Square: Republican Rep. Ortitay Wants To Expand Natural Gas Drilling On State Land, Raise Other Revenue To Replace School Property Taxes

-- York Daily Record: York County Reaches Milestone Of 50,000 Acres Of Farmland Preserved

-- Republican Herald: 2 Schuylkill Farms Join Ranks Of ‘Forever Farms’

-- TribLive: Eagle Scout Carlton Fogliani To Revitalize Historic Tree Site In Richland Community Park In Allegheny County 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: North Branch Land Trust’s Annual Red Barn Banquet Returning Sept. 16 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Contractor Approved To Address Great Allegheny Passage Trail Landslide In Somerset County 

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Philly Parks Are Failing, Let’s Double The Parks Budget, Relying On Volunteers And Nonprofits Is A Temporary Fix

-- WPost: Inside The $7 Million Project To Keep Water Out Of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater Masterpiece In Pennsylvania 

[Posted: August 27, 2025]  PA Environment Digest