Rep. Doug LaMalfa on Repealing the 2001 Federal Lands Rule

Repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule

• 🗣️ Rep. Doug LaMalfa announced the Forest Service's initiation of the repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule, calling it a move that was "long overdue."
• 🎯 He commended Secretary Rollins for her assessment that the rule has been "disastrous for the West."

Impacts of the Roadless Rule

• 🌲 The rule has blocked forest thinning, logging, and road construction, hindering responsible forest management.
• 🚫 Approximately 640 million acres are federally controlled, with half managed by the Forest Service, and these restrictions have made it harder to fight wildfires and protect public safety.
• 📉 Overgrown forests and restricted access have prevented rural counties from creating jobs and generating income for local governments, schools, and roads.

Rationale for Repeal

• 💡 The rule, enacted in the final days of the Clinton administration, was driven by Washington-based environmental activists rather than local communities affected by forest conditions.
• ✅ Repealing the rule is seen as a crucial step towards restoring access to lands, improving wildfire response, and reintroducing common-sense forest management practices.