http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=123541.0

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2009

Contact: Kristina Johnson
(415) 977-5619
Federal Appeals Court Upholds Roadless Area Protections

San Francisco, CA – The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today affirmed
protection for over 40 million acres of wild national forests and
grasslands from new road building, logging, and development. The decision
puts an end to the Bush administration’s efforts to open these last great
natural areas to development. Today’s ruling protects the majority of
national forest roadless areas in the country.

Today’s ruling not only affirms and reinstates the most popular
environmental rule of all time, it frees the Obama administration to pursue
President Obama’s pledge to “support and defend” the 2001 Rule – including
appealing an adverse ruling from a Wyoming federal court, ending the
roadless protection exemption for the Tongass National Forest, and
refraining from endorsing state-based roadless plans, like the one just
proposed in Colorado.

Statement of Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope:

This decision is a victory for campers, hikers, hunters, anglers, and all
Americans who enjoy the wild forests that make our nation unique.

Now the Obama administration has an opportunity to take the steps necessary
to provide protections for all of our nation’s remaining roadless areas,
including the Tongass National Forest. By unequivocally rejecting the Bush
administration's attempts to remove protections for roadless areas, today's
decision paves the way for President Obama to uphold and defend the 2001
Roadless Rule.

The outpouring of public support for upholding the Roadless Rule has been
staggering. Millions of Americans weighed in on this issue, and now their
voices have finally been heard.

Deep public support for roadless area protection and hard fought battles
helped us keep the majority of our roadless areas safe despite attacks from
the Bush administration. We are proud that only seven miles of roads were
built and 535 acres of trees logged in roadless areas since 2001. We now
look forward to securing permanent protection for these areas.