The USDA indicated it plans to repeal the ‘Roadless Rule,’ a Clinton-era regulation that prevents new road-building in undeveloped federal forest areas.
The U.S. Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced plans to repeal the 2001 ‘Roadless Rule’ that protects 58.5 million acres of public lands from new road construction, mining, and logging. The move is part of the Trump administration’s initiative to “aggressively” encourage more timber production on public lands.
According to an article by Bobby Magill in Bloomberg Law, “The Clinton-era move was backed by environmentalists but vehemently opposed by the state officials who want logging jobs to be created in the forest.” Some opponents of the rule argue it makes it harder for firefighting crews to access areas when wildfires occur. An NPR article notes that “Environmentalists counter that wildfires are more likely to occur in forests that have been developed with roads and other infrastructure.”
The agency is required by law to undergo a public notice and comment process before formally repealing the rule.
FULL STORY: US Forest Service to Repeal Roadless Rule to Promote Logging
Study: Building More Forest Roads Would Quadruple Fire Risk
The administration plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which protects close to 60 million acres of national forest lands from road development.
New Executive Order Renews Attack on Public Lands
An order issued late last week pushes for increased mineral extraction on federally owned public lands.
Get Ready for a Wave of Federal Land Transfers in Western States
It's the antithesis of what former President Obama and his predecessors did when they gave federal lands and waters more protection. But don't blame Trump's executive actions for this one (not yet, anyway), as it's being proposed by Congress.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
Mamdani overhauls NYC's Vision Zero plan with 100 new policy goals
The overhaul aims to reduce traffic deaths and make streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers through lower speed limits, new safety infrastructure and more.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association