Roadless Areas
Washington Trails Association supports legislative efforts directed at preserving roadless areas in Washington.
Some of the most beautiful wild country in Washington
is in unprotected roadless areas: peaks such as Golden Horn, in the Liberty Bell
Roadless Area; lakes like Mad Lake, in the Mad River Roadless Area; and meadows
like Dark Meadow, in the Dark Divide. These are all examples of the natural bounty that
roadless areas provide in Washington. Of the 9 million acres of National Forest in Washington, more than 2
million are roadless, meaning that they are undisturbed by road
building.
The Clinton era Roadless Area Conservation Policy, also known as the "roadless rule," would have protected these areas from road development and logging. 58.5 million acres nationwide would have been protected as wildlife habitat, a source of clean water, and an enduring resource for hikers. More than 2 million acres in Washington would have been included in the plan.
Upon taking office, the Bush administration abandoned the Roadless Area Conservation Policy by not defending it against legal challenges, casting the fate of these unroaded acres into the legal unknown. The administration then gave state Governors significant say over which
federal roadless areas are to be protected, and in which areas road building would be allowed.
This set a dangerous precedent, tilting toward local control of a national
resource.
That was the story until September 20, 2006 when Judge Elizabeth LaPorte, US Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of California, set aside the Bush administration policy and reinstated the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Policy, claiming that the administration failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and conduct an environmental review. While this decision may be appealed, for the time being roadless lands are protected under the 2001 rule.
