SEEC Lands, Waters, and Nature Task Force Statement on the 25th Anniversary of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Lands, Waters, and Nature Task Force, led by Co-Chairs Reps. Don Beyer (VA-08), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Doris Matsui (CA-07), released the following statement in response to the 25th anniversary of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule (Roadless Rule).

“America’s Roadless Rule turns 25 today. For a quarter of a century, this effective and widely supported conservation policy has served the American people by protecting 58 million acres of pristine national forestland. By allowing these forests to remain wild and free, current and future generations of Americans can continue to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and enjoy America’s iconic outdoor spaces. 

“Despite these benefits to the American people and outdoor economy, the Trump Administration spent the past year working to actively roll back the wildly popular Roadless Rule, jeopardizing decades of progress and exposing irreplaceable landscapes to destructive development. The American public has stated loud and clear – thanks to the hundreds of thousands of supportive public comments – that these lands should remain untouched and publicly owned. And so on this momentous anniversary, we on the Lands, Waters, and Nature Task Force reiterate the call to preserve the Roadless Rule for generations to come.”