Ruben Gallego Spearheads Letter Urging Protection of National Forests

Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) spearheaded a recent letter to the Under Secretary of Agriculture, Michael Boren, and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz urging the maintenance of environmental protections in any revisions of the 2005 Travel Management Rule.

The Context

The Travel Management Rule dictates when and where motorized vehicles may not leave designated roads unless permitted for fire, medical, or other emergencies in national forests and grasslands. Other aspects include minimizing environmental harm and regularly updating designated routes.

Gallego's Letter

Sen. Gallego's letter highlighted that "many of the proposed changes in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's recently published Notice of Intent (NOI) would significantly alter the overarching framework that protects our lands and waters and supports our nation's wildlife, clean water, and outdoor recreation economy."

As a result, he urged the USDA and Forest Service to adhere to six key principles outlined in the 2005 Travel Management Rule.

For instance, "The Administration's proposal to presume that routes are open, unless required to be closed, could lead to networks of user-created trails—with significant implications for wildlife, water, and vegetation," and thus any revisions should "examine the types of environmental impacts that the 2005 Rule responded to, and to ensure that any final rule minimizes negative impacts to habitat and ecosystems across the National Forest System."

Additionally, Sen. Gallego suggested the federal government should center state, local, and Tribal input on any changes, ensure any changes or expansions are properly resourced, and maintain clarity surrounding designated routes.

"We urge the Forest Service to approach these revisions with those principles in mind and to work closely with Congress, Tribal Nations, State and local governments, and the broad range of stakeholders that depend on our national forests," the Arizona Senator continued, adding, "We stand ready to work with you to ensure that any final rule gives land managers the tools to keep our forests accessible, safe, and healthy for generations to come."

Previous Forest Legislation

Last June, Gallego introduced the Roadless Area Conservation Act, which codifies the U.S. Forest Service's "Roadless Rule" into law, permanently protecting approximately 58.5 million acres of woodland, spread across 39 states, from logging and roadbuilding.