NH Congressional Delegation Urges Trump Administration to Expand Public Engagement on “Roadless Rule” Changes, Restore Full Staffing at Forest Service

(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), alongside U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), are urging U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to provide greater opportunity for public engagement regarding the Trump Administration's plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, including by holding public meetings in New Hampshire. The "roadless rule" prohibits road construction and timber harvesting, with limited exceptions, across nearly 45 million acres of our national forests-including more than 265,000 acres of New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest.

The delegation wrote, in part, "We write regarding the U.S. Forest Service's process to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (0596-AD66) that covers nearly 45 million acres of our national forests. We are concerned about the short timeline that you have outlined, with just 21 days for the initial public comment period. We urge you to provide greater opportunity for those who care about our national forests to have meaningful involvement, including by holding public meetings in New Hampshire."

The delegation continued, "The 265,000 acres of inventoried roadless areas within the White Mountain National Forest include designated wilderness and other treasured landscapes for hiking, backcountry skiing, fishing and all of the outdoor activities that make New Hampshire so special. The $3.9 billion outdoor recreation economy, the $1.4 billion forest products industry and the incalculable benefits of wildlife habitat and watershed health all depend upon sound management of the national forest. With opportunities for sustainable timber harvesting and protection for unfragmented forest landscapes, these values can and do coexist."

The lawmakers concluded, "Finally, we note that the health of our forests and the ability to manage for timber, recreation, water quality and wildlife depend on people to do the work. With more than 4,000 U.S. Forest Service staff accepting deferred resignations, an unspecified number of improper firings and a disruptive reorganization plan expected to push out additional employees, we worry about the Forest Service's ability to meet its statutory obligation to manage our national forests for multiple use and sustained yield to benefit current and future generations. Accordingly, we urge you to restore Forest Service staffing to appropriate levels and take steps to appropriately engage with the public on rulemaking regarding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule."

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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