WildEarth Guardians

Friday, October 22, 2004
Roadless Conservation Rule: Economists' Petition the USDA Forest Service Proposed Rule Change

As citizens who understand the economic value of our national forests, we urge you not to implement this new rule. The original roadless rule is of far greater benefit to federal taxpayers.
Contact: WildEarth Guardians

Designating roadless areas in our national forests is an economically sound policy that saves taxpayers millions of dollars in road building and timber sale subsidies. As professional economists, we urge the administration to reverse its decision to replace the Roadless Area Conservation Rule for the following reasons:

1. The administration’s proposal will increase public subsidies to private timbercompanies.

2. We already have too many forest roads.

3. This plan does not solve the Forest Service’s accountability problems.

Read the economist's petition to the USFS Content Analysis Team (PDF)