USDA files to end the 2001 Roadless Rule

USDA proposed rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which limited new roads and timber harvest in inventoried roadless national forest. Comments close Sept. 21, 2026. USDA says the national ban blocked local thinning it argues would cut Western wildfire risk; the filing says it does not itself authorize roads or logging. Conservation groups and most Tribal comments oppose. Idaho and Colorado state roadless rules would stay. Acreage figures are labeled, not merged (FR 58.5 million vs USDA press ~44 million vs ABC/Earthjustice ~45 million). ABC said Tuesday inspection; Federal Register notice is Thursday print.