Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued a state of emergency declaration in response to the wildfire threat. This declaration followed six Emergency Conflagration Act declarations for individual fires within the prior two weeks. The state of emergency was declared to mobilize state and federal agencies and the use of resources to prevent and respond to fires.

At the same time, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has taken the next step in the rulemaking process for rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule.

Lt Robert (Rocket) Powell GDO (Ret) has tracked the effect of federal management on the ability of counties, companies in timber and related fields, towns needing to gain economic stability, fire safety in clean forests and more. He is saying this announcement is monumental. The rulemaking opens up a comment period and the message is relevant to all states benefiting millions of people. Listed are 120 National Forests, but the rules affect all national forests by the same onerous rules in some way. Powell emphasizes, “Removal of roads must be curtailed because road production is more necessary than ever. That will be done with environmental concerns engaged, stewards protect, environmental-ism destroys."

Oregon has the second highest number of Forest listed out of 41 states:

• Deschutes National Forest
• Fremont-Winema National Forest
• Klamath National Forest
• Malheur National Forest
• Mount Hood National Forest
• Ochoco National Forest
• Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
• Siuslaw National Forest
• Umatilla National Forest
• Umpqua National Forest
• Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
• Willamette National Forest

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said, “We are one step closer to common sense management of our national forest lands. Today marks a critical step forward in President Trump’s commitment to restoring local decision-making to federal land managers to empower them to do what’s necessary to protect America’s forests and communities from devastating destruction from fires. This administration is dedicated to removing burdensome, outdated, one-size-fits-all regulations that not only put people and livelihoods at risk but also stifle economic growth in rural America. It is vital that we properly manage our federal lands to create healthy, resilient, and productive forests for generations to come. We look forward to hearing directly from the people and communities we serve as we work together to implement productive and commonsense policy for forest land management.”

Powell says, "The ‘Coordination process’ to protect the American population has been weaponized. Oregon Counties are a specific victim of this sleight of hand. The Trump Administration’s Executive Orders are opening up jobs for cleaning forests, for safer conditions that environmental mis-management has ruined.”

The proposal aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation to get rid of overcomplicated, burdensome barriers that hamper American business and innovation. It also supports Executive Order 14153, Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential which directs the Forest Service to exempt the Tongass National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Rule. It will bring forest safety and work to revive dying forests all through America

Powell continues, "In 2001, President Bush ordered the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, an environmental policy that largely banned road construction and logging in certain areas of U.S. national forests. Then It was weaponized to remove and decommission roads from travel. The Road closure rule should never have been made law. It must end because of damage to health, species and fire safety".

The USDA Forest Service has published a notice seeking public comment on its intention to develop an environmental impact statement for the proposed rescission of the rule. The notice details the reasons for rescinding the rule, the potential effects on people and resources, and how national forests and grasslands are managed. The USDA Forest Service published the notice in the Federal Register on Friday, August 29, 2025.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

“For nearly 25 years, the Roadless Rule has frustrated land managers and served as a barrier to action – prohibiting road construction, which has limited wildfire suppression and active forest management,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “The forests we know today are not the same as the forests of 2001. They are dangerously overstocked and increasingly threatened by drought, mortality, insect-borne disease, and wildfire. It’s time to return land management decisions where they belong – with local Forest Service experts who best understand their forests and communities. We encourage participation in the upcoming public process. Your input will help to build a stronger, safer future for our forests and the communities that depend on these forests for jobs, recreation, and clean water.”

While the rescission applies first to roadless areas in Alaska, the total 2025 rescission applies to nearly 45 million acres of the nearly 60 million acres of roadless areas within the National Forest System. All of the National Forests are involved. The stewards see the Forests, National or otherwise, as to be tended not destroyed along with many species, plants local small species frogs, butterflies, and the thousand other varieties burned by the environmentalists’ lack of understanding. Wealth distribution is not wellbeing.

Powell encourages the public to take advantage of this opportunity to be the voice of the people. Comments will be accepted to September 19, 2025. Additional opportunities to comment will occur as the rulemaking process continues. But don’t wait, NGO’s will try to stop this benefit to humanity. Environmental-ism is destructive. The stewards see the forests to be tended not destroyed.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-09-03 13:41:42

Last Update: 2025-09-04 01:54:36