The U.S. Forest Service filed a proposed rule in the Federal Register would end protections for nearly 45 million acres of “inventoried roadless areas” from road-building and logging.
“As Americans are planning how to spend their time outside in our public lands this fall, the Forest Service is proposing to open our wild forests to logging and new roads,” said Environment America Research & Policy Center’s Great Outdoors Campaign Director Ellen Montgomery.
“We should be celebrating nature and protecting our remaining intact forests, not removing decades-old protections. We call on all Americans to submit public comments over the next 30 days. To keep America beautiful, let’s ask the Forest Service to keep our wild forests wild.”
The Roadless Area Conservation Rule currently protects these swaths of wild forests, including 25,000 acres in Pennsylvania, from logging, mining and other destructive human activities.
According to the proposed rule, the Forest Service anticipates that permanent roads could be constructed across 18.2 million acres and temporary roads across another 11.3 million acres of wild forest currently protected from development.
Roads and road reconstruction damage wildlife habitat, hinder wildlife movement and can cause water pollution.
And, contrary to the stated rationale for rescinding the Roadless Rule, it may increase the likelihood of human-caused wildfires.
Fewer than 1% of wildfires in the lower 48 states since 2010 have started in roadless areas of national forests.
For a quarter-century, forests protected by the Roadless Rule have provided respite from modern hustle and bustle for Americans and wildlife alike.
“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,” said PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center’s Clean Water and Conservation Advocate Stephanie Wein.
“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.”
“Roadless areas protect the scenic views of Hearts Content and 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,” said Wein.
The Allegheny National Forest is located in Elk, Forest, McKean and Warren counties.
The Roadless Rule was enacted in 2001 after 600 public meetings and in response to 1.6 million public comments.
The public will have until September 21 to comment about the new proposed rule.
People can go to SaveRoadlessForests.com to leave a comment and let the Forest Service know they want to keep the Roadless Rule -- and America’s beloved wilderness -- intact for generations to come.
[Posted: August 24, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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