Controversy Surrounds Proposal to Lift Road Construction Ban on Federal Lands
In a move that has sparked significant debate, the Trump administration is considering abolishing a regulation that restricts road development across nearly 59 million acres of U.S. federal lands. The proposed change has faced considerable opposition from environmental groups and members of the public.
Enacted in 2001, the existing rule prohibits road building and timber harvesting on sensitive lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. It was originally intended to prevent environmental degradation such as erosion and the fragmentation of forests.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggested over the summer that removing the regulation could enhance forest management practices and mitigate wildfire risks. However, research indicates that most wildfires are ignited by human activity within a half-mile of existing roads.
Conservationists argue that increasing the number of roads could exacerbate wildfire occurrences. Organizations like the Center for Western Priorities highlight that the rule enjoys widespread bipartisan backing.
Following the conclusion of the public comment period last week, the Center for Western Priorities reported that over 90% of the more than 200,000 submissions opposed the proposed regulatory change.
Arizona features more than 1.2 million acres of roadless areas, including about 140,000 acres within the Prescott National Forest, in regions such as Sheridan Mountain and Ash Creek. Additionally, the Kaibab, Coconino, and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests contain 53,000, 50,000, and 285,000 roadless acres, respectively. The Coronado National Forest also limits construction over more than 420,000 acres, encompassing the Chiricahua Mountains and Mount Lemmon.
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