https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-forests-should-be-safe-despite-trump-roadless-plan-24890208

Colorado is one of only two states with regulatioA landmark conservation rule that prohibits logging on millions of acres of federal forest lands may soon be eliminated, but Colorado forests should be spared from the impact.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule adopted under former President Bill Clinton on Monday, June 23. The rule shields 58.5 million acres — 30 percent of national forest lands — from road construction, road reconstruction and timber harvesting, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

However, Colorado is one of just two states with its own roadless rule, in addition to Idaho. The roadless area boundaries adopted in these state rules supersede the boundaries from the 2001 Roadless Rule, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Therefore, the Colorado protections should remain in place even if the federal rule is rescinded.

Of the 14.5 million acres of national forest system lands in Colorado, 4.433 million acres are roadless areas. The Colorado Roadless Rule adopted in 2012 covers 4.2 million acres.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service and Colorado State Forest Service did not immediately respond to inquiries about what impact revoking the 2001 Roadless Rule would have on the Colorado Roadless Rule. However, the Lewiston Tribune in Idaho reports that the USDA confirmed Idaho's state-specific roadless rule will not be affected.

According to Polis's office, Rollins confirmed to the governor earlier this week that the Colorado Roadless Rule will remain intact despite moves at the federal level.

Rollins’ announcement is just the first step in the process to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule. A formal notice is expected in the coming weeks, and environmental groups are already threatening to challenge the decision in court, including Earthjustice.

The USDA criticized the 2001 Roadless Rule as "outdated" and "overly restrictive" in a statement on Monday, arguing that it impedes necessary fire prevention work and hurts the forestry industry. The move comes as President Donald Trump issued an executive order in March to remove administrative barriers to boost logging on federal land's that supersede the boundaries of the federal order.

"Once again, President Trump is removing absurd obstacles to common-sense management of our natural resources by rescinding the overly restrictive roadless rule," Rollins said in a statement. "This move opens a new era of consistency and sustainability for our nation’s forests. It is abundantly clear that properly managing our forests preserves them from devastating fires and allows future generations of Americans to enjoy and reap the benefits of this great land."

Environmental advocates disagree that opening the door for more logging will reduce fire risk, pointing to studies that contradict the claim and to the impact of climate change exacerbating the frequency and severity of wildfires.

“It’s ridiculous for Secretary Rollins to spin this as a move that will reduce wildfire risk or improve recreation," said Rachael Hamby, policy director of the Center for Western Priorities, in a statement. "This is nothing more than a massive giveaway to timber companies at the expense of every American and the forests that belong to all of us. ...An attack on the Roadless Rule is an attack on clean water, wildlife, Western communities, and recreation on public lands."

Colorado is home to eleven national forests: Arapaho, Grand Mesa, Gunnison, Pike, Rio Grande, Roosevelt, Routt, San Isabel, San Juan, Uncompahgre and White River.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5749029&forum_id=2...id.#49092367)