On June 23, 2025, the USDA announced a significant step in the Grand Reopening of our public lands with a decision to rescind the Roadless Rule. This move eliminates outdated restrictions, making way for responsible forest management and access across our nation’s national forests.
Rescinding the Roadless Rule has been a top priority for BlueRibbon Coalition since it was enacted by the Clinton administration in 2001. In fact, BlueRibbon Coalition was one of the first parties to file a lawsuit and secure an injunction against the rule in 2001. The Rule has faced extensive legal and regulatory scrutiny throughout existence, and BlueRibbon Coalition has taken numerous actions against it as referenced in the timeline below.
The announcement that the Rule will be rescinded is the culmination of a long fight. Underscoring it in our team’s D.C. trip earlier this year, we informed Congress and the Administration that one of our top priorities was to rescind the Roadless Rule. They listened.
However, our fight is not over. The Roadless Rule has been plagued by lawsuits since its inception and this action is sure to result in many more legal challenges from anti-access groups. We haven’t quit since 2001. With momentum on our side, we are ready to defend this action for access. Our lawyers are ready to continue this fight. So right now, we need your support more than ever.
The fight is just beginning. Help us get this across the finish line.
What were the consequences of the Roadless Rule? Why did we want it rescinded? And what’s fact vs. fiction? Read on…
The Roadless Rule
The Roadless Rule essentially designated 59 million acres, or ⅓ of our National Forest system, as de facto wilderness through a regulation instead of an act of Congress. The Rule inventoried all roadless acres within the forests and prohibited road reconstruction, construction and timber harvesting. While the rule locked out ⅓ of our forests to most recreation, more importantly, it hampered the ability for the U.S. Forest Service to sustain the health and diversity of the nation’s forests and grasslands. Roads allow recreationists to explore their public lands, brush to be cleared by machinery, and new wildfires to be fought more effectively.
Without the ability to improve or create routes through remote sections of our forests, the Roadless Rule contributed to the spread and destruction of catastrophic wildfires since it was enacted 24 years ago. Of the 58.5 million acres covered under the Rule, 28 million acres are in areas at high or very high risk of wildfire according to the USDA. The Roadless Rule restrictions have contributed to the 36 million acres of forest that have burned since the Rule was adopted, according to the American Forest Resource Council.
As Dr. Bob Zybach, one of the foremost experts on forest wildfire mitigation and reforestation, once said, “You take away logging, grazing and maintenance, and you get firebombs.” He went on to explain to The Smokey Wire, “The subsequent never-ending environmental lawsuits, new Wilderness and Habitat Conservation Plan creations, access road decommissionings, and fruitless public planning exercises have created tens of millions of acres of massive fuel build-ups and ‘let it burn’ policies that have decimated our forests.”
Forest wildfires cost local governments and their citizens a lot of money. When these roadless area tinderboxes ignite, they —obviously— don’t actually “conserve” the forest nor protect wildlife. And they completely inhibit recreation. Rescinding this rule will allow forests to be actively managed with every available tool for more flexibility to reduce wildfire risk and protect surrounding communities and infrastructure. It also reopens our forests to responsible recreation once again, so that more Americans can enjoy their public lands.
Fact vs Fiction
Our forests are going to be a spiderweb of paved roads!
Incorrect. Forest service roads, as you may have noticed, are not paved roads. They are more akin to trails, which our community loves to respectfully recreate on. We’re sure some of your favorite trails are actually forest service roads!
Current forest service roads which were once closed may now be opened and the USFS can repair / maintain them. Additional service routes may be created at the discretion of the USFS for wildfire mitigation, health and habitat purposes. It is not a private free-for-all.
They will never let motorized-recreation on forest service roads!
False. Forest service roads are publicly owned. Those which are not within a Roadless Rule designation are usually open to the public as long as it’s federal land. Again, we’re betting some of your favorite trails are forest service roads.
Some forest roads do require temporary closures. This might include restoration/revegetation, a dangerous hazard in the road which needs to be repaired, etc. BRC does support and respect closures for temporary purposes. But that’s also why we’re here, to ensure that our members’ rights are protected on these public access roads.
This will open forests to logging which will decimate them!
Misleading and hyperbolic. 36 million acres of forests are already designated as wilderness, which prohibits all logging and most recreation. The Roadless Rule does not affect these designations.
A dying and burnt forest does not conserve a forest, protect wildlife, nor allow for recreation. Most wildfire and forest experts agree that fire prevention sometimes requires salvage logging, thinning and dead tree removal in order to protect the health of the ecosystem. We’ve supported many active forest management initiatives, we have also opposed them when they permanently curtail recreation access.
Our position always remains the same: does this permanently affect recreation? If it does— including logging proposals— BRC will fight to protect the rights of our members. These kinds of issues are best addressed on a case-by-case basis, relying on experts and locals on the ground, rather than adopting policies from Mt. High that actually have decimated forests and restricted access.
BRC & USDA are alone in wanting the Roadless Rule Rescinded!
False. Since the Roadless Rule came into effect in 2001, multiple states have opposed the rule, including: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.
BRC joined other recreation groups in multiple suits throughout the implementation of the law, including: California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, United Four Wheel Drive Associations, and the American Council of Snowmobile Associations. Our timeline below showcases the long history of opposition.
Timeline: BlueRibbon Coalition’s Fight to Rescind the Roadless Rule
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Clinton Issues Roadless Rule
On January 5, 2001, the Clinton Administration issues the Final Roadless Rule, seeking to govern the 58.5 million acres of U.S. forests.
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BRC Files Suit
BlueRibbon Coalition, Kootenai Tribe, Idaho State Snowmobile Ass’n, livestock grazers, several Idaho counties and Boise Cascade file suit in federal court in Idaho. The State of Wyoming and State of Idaho file similar suits shortly after.
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Preliminary Injunction
The Idaho plaintiffs, including BRC, move for a preliminary injunction and prevail.
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9th Circuit Reverses Decision
In December, a divided three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit reverses the district of Idaho injunction. This clears the way for the Roadless Rule to be implemented.
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BRC Supports Wyoming Suit
The judge in the Wyoming case issues an order declaring the Roadless Rule unlawful and enjoins its implementation nationwide. Anti-access organizations appeal the decision to the Tenth Circuit. BlueRibbon Coalition files an amicus curiae, or “friend of the Court”, brief in support of the State of Wyoming.
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10th Circuit Vacates Based on new Bush Rule
President Bush announces new “State Petitions” Rule with intent to override the Roadless Rule and would allow governors to manage requirements of roadless areas in their states. 10th Circuit vacates Wyoming District Court opinion for mootness.
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BRC Gets a Seat At the Table
BlueRibbon Coalition’s Adena Cook is selected to sit on the Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee (RACNAC), a formal advisory committee tasked to review the state roadless petitions.
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Clinton Roadless Rule Reinstated
California court rules Bush’s State Petitions Rule was in violation of NEPA and Endangered Species Act and orders Clinton Roadless Rule to be reinstated.
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BRC Files New Suit with USFS
The Forest Service, BlueRibbon Coalition, and Oregon timber interests appeal to the 9th Circuit.
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BRC Supports Wyoming in New Suit
The state of Wyoming refiles a new lawsuit modeled on its previous action, and the litigation proceeds swiftly. The BlueRibbon Coalition remains actively engaged in all state petition processes and obtains amicus curiae status in the Wyoming lawsuit.
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Wyoming Wins, Roadless Rule Illegal
Wyoming prevails in its district court lawsuit, securing a ruling that the 2001 Roadless Rule violated multiple environmental laws and obtaining a nationwide injunction against its implementation. Also, BlueRibbon’s appeal to the Ninth Circuit is argued in October.
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9th Circuit Confirms Roadless Rule
The 9th Circuit court affirmed 2006 decision striking the State Petitions Rule and reinstating 2001 Roadless Rule. Obama administration moves to appeal the Wyoming ruling as well.
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BRC & Recreation Groups File in 10th Circuit Court
A coalition of recreation advocacy groups, including BRC, CA4WDC, UFWDA, and ACSA, filed an Amicus Curiae brief in the 10th District Court of Appeals. This brief was filed in an appeal by anti-access groups against a 2008 decision by U.S. District of Wyoming that declared the Clinton-era Roadless Rule illegal.
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10th Circuit Court Rules Against Wyoming Court & Recreation Advocates
10th Circuit Court disagrees with Wyoming court, officially reinstating the Roadless Rule and delivering a blow to recreation advocates involved, including: BRC, California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, United Four Wheel Drive Associations, and the American Council of Snowmobile Associations.
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U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Chevron Deference
This decision eliminates the longstanding practice of courts deferring to an agency’s interpretation of an ambiguous statute, requiring courts instead to exercise independent judgment in interpreting the law.
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BRC Goes to Washington
BlueRibbon Coalition delegation travels to Washington D.C. to meet with lawmakers. The first item on their list: To rescind the Roadless Rule.
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Roadless Rule Rescinded by the USDA
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announces the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule.
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