I am one of 232 state legislators from 41 states calling on @USDA to halt its effort to dismantle the Roadless Rule. For 25 years, these protections have safeguarded nearly 60 million acres across 37 states and some of our nation’s most valuable wild places. Now is the time to protect them.
The Roadless Area Conservation Rule (the “Roadless Rule”) stops road construction and logging on National Forest lands that have ecological and recreational value, protecting clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience. On Tuesday, August 18th, the USDA filed a proposal to rescind this rule.
In the formal comment letter to the USDA, our reasons were the following:
The Roadless Rule:
- has large public support, but public input has been severely limited for this proposal
- is vital for protecting landmarks across its 60 million acres
- helps improve water quality, protect wildlife habitat, and address climate change
- lessens the chance of a wildfire, as research shows wildfire ignitions are four times as likely in forests with roads
- supports a recreation economy, the Forest Service, and landscapes with deep cultural and subsistence importance to Indigenous communities
Learn more at @ncelenviro ➡️ https://ncelenviro.org/articles/legislators-from-41-states-oppose-usdas-effort-to-rescind-the-roadless-rule/
Rep. Maura Hirschauer
(D-Batavia)
49th District
Springfield Office:
270-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-1653
District Office:
946 Neltnor Blvd #104
West Chicago IL 60185
