The Trump administration is attacking the policies that have kept our environment healthier and safer. Now, while fires ravage acres of forests, he wants to rescind the Roadless Rule, under the falsehood it will allow better management. Their argument is convincing, but not based on science and opens some of our oldest forests to mining and logging.
The Roadless Rule has protected 44 million acres of forests for the last 25 years. Fewer forests in Roadless Areas have fires since most fires begin near roads and are human caused. Not only do they lead to more fires, roads cause increased sedimentation in headwaters, which can affect trout and salmon runs, endanger wildlife and adversely impact our drinking water supplies.
The more intense fires we see now are a result of years of mismanagement: fire suppression and industrial logging. The Roadless Rule does not prevent management. The $4.4 billion forest service backlog does, plus the more than 370,000 miles of roads they already have to manage. The forests provide clean air and water which help mitigate the effects of global warming.
Many favorite recreation areas are in roadless areas such as the Uintas, Logan Canyon, Big and Little Cottonwood areas.
If Trump were interested in protecting our forests, he would not cut funding to the forest service. He wants to increase timber production, once again favoring industry over people. In 2001, Taxpayers for Common Sense supported the creation of the Roadless Rule to stop the frivolous spending of our tax dollars. Over a million people supported it. We need to do the same now. To comment on the proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement, go to Regulations.gov. Public comments must be received by midnight on Sept. 21.
Patricia Becnel, Ogden