In August, US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the US Forest Service is attempting to fully rescind 2001’s federal Roadless Area Conservation Rule. If approved, this change would allow road construction inside America’s national forests, including 1.6 million acres in New Mexico.
“If the Roadless Area Conservation Rule is repealed, 45 million acres of pristine national forests across the country would be opened up for the first time in more than 20 years to road building and the logging, mining, and extractive industries that come with that,” read a statement from Sierra Club’s Rio Grande chapter following the announcement.
“These lands are not only key recreation areas for New Mexicans, but they are the source of clean water for communities around the State.”
The announcement touched off a public comment period that will end on Sept. 21, but the federal government has refused to hold any public forums to gather feedback in person.
In the days before the comment period ends, Sierra Club Rio Grande is partnering with the Wilderness Society and New Mexico Wilderness Alliance to hold their own town halls and collect comments that can be included in public feedback.
Having already held meetings in Santa Fe and Albuquerque (don’t worry, a virtual meeting is still on the calendar), the remaining meetings are as follows:
- Silver City: Besse Forward Global Resource Center; Sept. 15, 5:30 p.m.
- Las Cruces: The WIA Building; Sept. 15, 6 p.m.
- Pecos: The Pecos Municipal Building; Sept. 16, 5:30 p.m.
- Virtual Zoom hearing: Sept. 16, 6 p.m.
Those opposed to the proposal can also sign this action alert petition, which at the time of this writing had already surpassed 37,300 signatures.
“We are asking residents to sign our action alert and add their names to the hundreds of thousands of people across the country who want their lands to remain protected,” said Camilla Feibelman, Sierra Club Rio Grande chapter director. “The Chapter encourages New Mexicans who feel discouraged to remember this regime will not be in power forever, and action today puts us in a better position to work with future administrations whose priorities are in line with the will of the people.”
