Huffman Calls on Trump Admin to Protect Roadless Rule
A snowy Mad River view of the the Six Rivers National Forest [Photo from the Six Rivers National Forest]
Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz to oppose repealing the Roadless Rule and object to the mere 21-day public comment period for the upcoming decision.
This truncated comment period is the latest in the Trump administration’s pattern of silencing public input on decisions that impact America’s public lands and the communities that surround them.
“I write to voice my strong opposition to its repeal, as increased logging and development of these areas jeopardize abundant outdoor recreational opportunities, clean drinking water for millions of Americans, and essential habitat for a wide range of wildlife.”
Huffman criticized the Trump administration’s rushed process, noting USDA allowed only “21 days for public comment,” compared to the 30–90 days typical for major rulemaking. The original 2001 rule drew 1.6 million comments, over 95% of which supported protections for our nation’s public lands.
Using examples from Northern California, Huffman painted a picture of the damage this decision would create for small, rural economies: “[R]escinding the Roadless Rule would remove critical environmental protection for hundreds of thousands of acres in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, the Mendocino National Forest, and the Six Rivers National Forest. Logging and development in these areas threaten the clean water and recreational opportunities that drive rural economies and sustain healthy communities in my district.” In the Six Rivers National Forest alone, the 150,000 protected acres provide 1.4 trillion gallons of clean water, valued at $428 million. These pristine forests attract over 165,000 visitors annually, who bring in about $7.8 million to local economies – all of which would be at risk without the Roadless Rule.
“Repealing the Rule would be a profound mistake, locking in a future of increasingly severe wildfires, fiscal irresponsibility, and water scarcity. I urge you to abandon this reckless course and uphold the Roadless Rule’s protections.”
Huffman also urged the administration to extend the comment period to a full 45 days for public comment and 120 days for Tribal consultation.
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Once again, arrogant, ignorant JH is spewing about things he knows nothing about other than talking points based on lies. The destruction of public land access through roadless laws is not only an infringement on the right to access OUR public lands, it is also why mega fires aren’t able to be accessed by fire crews. Have you been to Red Lasic or Black Lasic lately? They’re both “botanical wilderness.” Yet, virtually no botanical is there anymore because of fire suppression failure. Once again, California voters put this public nuisance back in office.
Absolutely
We already have access to millions of acres of public lands.
Roadless areas protect the relatively small percentage that has remained untouched by human development. This is land that has evolved along with fire. It doesn’t need our help.
Trump’s attempt to reverse the roadless rule has nothing to do with fire management,
it’s entirely about opening the land to industrial logging.
The Mike Thompson Wilderness is not untouched. Hundreds of miles of roads were decommissioned to “turn it into a wilderness.” Far left lies all the way.
100% true.
I was up at the Lassics this summer and found several endangered species doing very well. Those plants evolved with natural fire for millions of years, and recover from it easily.
The Lassics wilderness is west of Signal Peak; Black Lassic and Red Lassic are not included in the wilderness. Check a current Six Rivers map.
The Roadless Rule prohibits new road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting on the areas it covers, which are specifically delineated (and just a small part of the National Forest system). If you’ve spent much time in the national forests, you know there’s a good road along every major ridge and waterway, plus spur roads accessing much of the rest.
Clearly you don’t have any idea what you are talking about. The 1S07 road up to the area is marked plainly with signs “botanical wilderness.” Sentney Rock Road used to provide access to Swayback but was closed. Blanket Creek Trail was closed even though it was a right of way to a private ranch. All of that is in the Mike Thompson Wilderness by the Lasics. I don’t know what map you have, but the ones provided at the Six Rivers Forest Office show this.
You can still access Roadless Areas, you just can’t drive on them. We have so few areas in the world without vehicles that we are losing the ability to describe what’s truly natural.
JarJar just wants more time to stop any road building into national forest land. His ecofreak minders need the time for rebuttal, and stalling of progress.
And how much money can he waste on committees and review in just 21 days. It should be evaluated for at least 2 years to come to a finding. let’s be reasonable.
>… recreational opportunities that drive rural economies and sustain healthy communities in my district”
IMHO: You be kidding ? Yes ?
National Forests = Now maintained for uber-wealthy Los Angeles and San Francisco residents.
Heck… visit Hayfork (near dead), Forest Glen (dead), Hyampom (dead), Ziena (dead), Kettnenpom (near dead), Forks of Salmon (dead), Peanut (dead), Junction City (dead), Siead Valley (near dead), Wildwood (dead)… etc etc.
Then he might as well visit the burned-out (roadless) South Fork Trinity River, Burned out (roadless) Salmon Mountains, burned out (roadless) Yolla-Bolly, etc etc.
Who elects these people ?
Photo is of the burned out Yolla Bolly er… ‘Wilderness’.
Let CA show the country how not to burn communities off the map. LOL HUFF and PUFF and burn your house down. Forests need management something you know nothing about !! FOOL
There are no communities in roadless areas.
Good try Mr. Huffman but it’s a waste of time. This soulless administration is hell bent on extracting every possible resource without any regard for the health of our environment.
Now there’s a congressman with power and influence
Only because of Marin (and Sonoma) placement. Otherwise he’s just a two-bit congressman from Calif.