In a reversal of Bush Administration policy that threatened open spaces, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced on May 28, 2009 that he is signing an interim directive giving his office control over inventoried roadless areas within our National Forests and Grasslands.

This is good news for all those who like to get outside, from hunters to campers, from fishermen to bird watchers. This one year directive is very similar to the acclaimed Roadless Rule first adopted by the Clinton Administration.

“In additional to providing opportunities for quality recreation for millions of hikers, hunters and anglers, the wild areas protected by the Roadless Rule offer vital habitat for thousands of wildlife species. They also safeguard drinking water supplies for millions of Americans,” said Athan Manuel, Director of the Sierra Club's Public Lands Protection Program, in a statement.

The Roadless Area Conservation Rule was first established by the Clinton administration in 2001 after the most extensive public involvement process in the history of federal rulemaking. However, over the following eight years, the status of the Roadless Rule has remained in doubt as the Bush administration repeatedly attempted to weaken the rule before ultimately acting to replace it with a state petition process that opened the door to development in many of our nation’s most cherished wild lands.

"This interim directive will provide consistency and clarity that will help protect our national forests until a long-term roadless policy reflecting President Obama's commitment is developed," said Vilsack.

The directive provides decision-making authority to the Secretary over proposed forest management or road construction projects in inventoried roadless areas.

The U.S. Forest Service, with jurisdiction over the National Forests and Grasslands, makes decisions about what projects can take place on those lands. In simultaneously upholding and overturning the 2001 Clinton roadless rule, the courts have created confusion and made it difficult for the U.S. Forest Service to do its job. The directive will ensure that USDA can carefully consider activities in these inventoried roadless areas while long term roadless policy is developed and relevant court cases move forward.

This interim directive changes procedural requirements for Forest Service projects in inventoried roadless areas. It does not prevent the Secretary from either approving projects that he believes are in the interest of forest stewardship or prohibiting projects he believes are not. The Secretary will work closely with the US Forest Service to implement this interim directive.

Sierra Club Applauds New Forest Protections

“We applaud Secretary Vilsack and the Obama administration for this announcement. Secretary Vilsack's directive is a critical interim measure to ensure that we safeguard the diverse values of our national forests as the Obama administration considers more permanent protections,” continued Manuel. “Today's announcement marks a good first step towards maintaining the pledge President Obama made as a candidate to protect our country's roadless areas.”

Still Room For Improvement

However, this interim directive does not affect roadless areas on National Forest System lands in Idaho - Idaho is exempt from this interim directive. Idaho developed its own roadless rule through the Administrative Procedures Act. That rule already prescribes how decisions with respect to forest management and road building in roadless areas in Idaho are to be made.

This interim directive will last for one year and can be renewed for an additional year. If you want to see this made permanent, let Vilsack know about it by clicking this link and raising your voice.