U.S. Forest Service Moves Forward in Stripping Protections for Alaska’s National Forests

Juneau, AK -- In a notice published today to the Federal Register, the U.S. Forest Service  announced that it is moving forward with an Environmental Impact Statement and public review process to develop an Alaska-specific version of the Roadless Rule, which currently safeguards 58.5 million acres of pristine National Forest System lands across 39 states from destructive logging and road building.

While not going as far as the state of Alaska’s request for a complete exemption from the Roadless Rule, a state-specific exemption would undermine protections for millions of acres of pristine, old-growth forest in the Tongass National Forest. The Tongass National Forest is home to some of the last remaining stands of temperate old-growth rainforest in the world and serves as a hub for tourism, fishing, and outdoor recreation in Southeast Alaska.

Today’s notice kicks off a 45-day comment period through October 15, during which the public will have the chance to weigh in on this proposed attack on Alaska’s national forests.

In response, Sierra Club Federal Policy Associate Jordan Giaconia released the following statement:

“The Roadless Rule is a critical conservation tool that protects some of America’s most valuable and ecologically- sensitive wildlands. The state of Alaska’s effort to undermine environmental protection for the Tongass National Forest not only puts Alaska’s last vestiges of old-growth forests at risk, but also clears the way for even bigger attacks on public lands nationwide. The state must abandon this misguided attempt to log away our nation's natural heritage and put Alaskan communities, forests and economy first.”