Federal Register #2026-16965

USDA Proposed Rule to Rescind 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, Request for Public Comment

The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, is proposing to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which currently restricts road construction, reconstruction, and timber harvesting in inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands. - No procurement of products or services is involved in this notice - No OEMs, vendors, or commercial suppliers are mentioned - The proposal aims to reduce regulatory burden and return management decisions for roadless areas to local forest planning processes - The notice requests public comment on the proposed rule, draft environmental impact statement, and cost-benefit analysis - Any future activities in these areas would require separate compliance with applicable laws and site-specific review - This is not a solicitation for goods or services, and no contract awards or purchases are being made

Description

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which established prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting within inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands. The proposed action aims to reduce regulatory burden and return decision-making for the management of inventoried roadless areas to the land management planning process at the individual national forest level. This rescission would provide local Forest Service officials with greater flexibility to manage these lands and respond to changing local resource conditions. The proposal does not authorize any specific ground-disturbing projects and any future projects would require site-specific compliance with applicable laws. Public comments are invited on this proposed rule, with a deadline of September 21, 2026.

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