The Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2005, introduced in the house on Thursday, would protect 58.5 million acres of National Forest lands from commercial logging and road building. This Act would reinstate one of the most popular rules put in place by Clinton and then overturned by Bush.
ENS Conservationists announced their strong support for a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday that would permanently protect much of the nation's last pristine National Forest land.
The bill codifies the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, promulgated by President Bill Clinton, which was overturned by the Bush administration in May.
The Act would still allow construction of temporary roads when human safety or forest health would benefit.
Protection of roadless areas has strong public support and scientific backing.
"This legislation listens to the will of the American people," said Robert Vandermark of the National Environmental Trust. "Before the Bush Administration officially repealed the Roadless Rule over four million public comments were submitted in support of protecting all our roadless areas."
The Roadless Rule was approved following years of scientific study and more than 600 public meetings across the country. During its consideration, 2.5 million Americans wrote the Federal government in support of the rule, making it the most popular in American history. Since then, another 1.8 million comments were received by the Bush administration opposing their plan and urging reinstatement of the original protection policy.
That's right 2.5 million in support of roadless protection and 1.8 million opposed to Bush's plan. The voice of the people stated loud and clear. Please encourage your Rep. to support the Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2005.