MEDIA ADVISORY: U.S. Rep. Salinas to Join Community Groups Hosting People’s Hearing on Federal Proposal to Rollback Public Lands Protection

PORTLAND, Ore. - On Wednesday, April 8, the Sierra Club Oregon Chapter, Oregon Wild, Cascade Forest Conservancy, and partners will be joined by U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas for a People's Hearing in support of preserving the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, also known as the Roadless Rule. The Trump administration began the process of rescinding the Roadless Rule last August, but no public hearings have been announced. As a result, public lands advocacy groups across the country are organizing hearings where community members can speak out about the importance of roadless areas and protecting wildlands. Public testimonies will be recorded and submitted in the upcoming comment period.

The Roadless Rule was enacted in 2001 following an extensive public participation process that included more than 600 public hearings nationwide and prompted 1.6 million public comments, 95% of which were in favor of protecting roadless areas. When the Trump administration proposed rescinding the Roadless Rule last fall, the initial comment period was remarkably short, lasting only three weeks. Public comment periods on proposed federal rules often last from 30 to 90 days. Despite the brief comment period, more than 200,000 comments were submitted and over 99% of those comments opposed the repeal.

The Roadless Rule protects nearly 45 million acres across the United States, and over two million acres of undeveloped public lands in Oregon and southwest Washington, including popular areas like Larch Mountain, Lost Lake, Eagle Creek, the Dark Divide, Siouxon, Silver Star, and many more.

WHO: Sierra Club Oregon Chapter, Oregon Wild, Cascade Forest Conservancy, BARK, WildEarth Guardians, Washington Native Plant Society, Environment Oregon, and 350 PDX

WHEN: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 from 5:30pm to 8:00pm PT

WHERE: Billy Frank Jr. Room at the EcoTrust Building, 721 NW 9th Ave, Portland, OR 97209

MORE BACKGROUND:

• The Roadless Rule, which has been in effect with broad bipartisan support since 2001, protects some of America's last-standing, undisturbed wildlands, providing safe habitat and migration corridors for wildlife.
• Forests, wetlands, canyons, and other undeveloped lands protected by the Rule are home to many threatened and endangered species, including grizzly bears, wolves, and salmon. Currently, roadless areas provide millions of acres of undeveloped backcountry for game animal populations, like elk and mule deer, to thrive.
• Roadless forests offer people a wide range of recreational activities and protect the headwaters of major rivers, which are vital for maintaining clean, mountain-fed drinking water nationwide.
• Rescinding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule would open these wild areas to the highest bidder for logging, mining, and oil and gas drilling.
• You can see what wildlife species are protected in Oregon with this map .