Visualizing the Roadless Rule
In 2001, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) asserted the power to prohibit road maintenance, road construction, and timber harvest across the national forests, locking away 58.5 million acres of American forests—an area roughly the size of Wyoming—without congressional authorization. That assertion of power became the “Roadless Rule.”
Learn more about Pacific Legal Foundation’s work to challenge the Roadless Rule here.
Search the record
All 34 entries, 1998–2026, with descriptions and primary sources. Select an entry to read more.
34 of 34 entries
January 1998 Moratorium proposed
The U.S. Forest Service Chief announces plans to develop a transportation policy for the National Forest System. He also proposes an 18-month road building moratorium on 130 National Forests while the policy is developed.
Sources: 63 Fed. Reg. 4,350–4,351 (Jan. 28, 1998); 63 Fed. Reg. 4,351–4,354 (Jan. 28, 1998)
March 1, 1999 Moratorium takes effect
A temporary roadbuilding moratorium takes effect.
Sources: 64 Fed. Reg. 7,290–7,305 (Feb. 12, 1999) (effective Mar. 1, 1999)
January 2001 Roadless Rule published
The USDA publishes the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, generally prohibiting road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting on 58.5 million acres of undeveloped national forest lands, subject to exceptions.
Sources: 66 Fed. Reg. 3,244, 3,245, 3,272–3,273 (Jan. 12, 2001)
February 5, 2001 Rule delayed
In accordance with President Bush’s Regulatory Review Plan, the Roadless Rule is delayed for an additional 60 calendar days.
Sources: 66 Fed. Reg. 8,899 (Feb. 5, 2001)
May 10, 2001 Idaho court blocks the rule
Idaho Federal Judge Edward Lodge issues a preliminary injunction barring the Roadless Rule from taking effect.
December 12, 2002 Ninth Circuit reinstates the rule
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reverses Judge Lodge’s preliminary injunction, reinstating the Roadless Rule.
Sources: Kootenai Tribe of Idaho v. Veneman, 313 F.3d 1094, 1126 (9th Cir. 2002)
June 9, 2003 Alaska settlement
The Bush Administration announces it will settle a lawsuit brought by the State of Alaska by agreeing to propose a temporary exemption for the Tongass National Forest. Separately, it announces it will consider whether the Tongass and Chugach National Forests should be exempted from the Roadless Rule.
Sources: U.S. Dep’t of Agric., Release No. 0200.03 (June 9, 2003); see also 68 Fed. Reg. 75,136, 75,136–75,137 (Dec. 30, 2003)
July 14, 2003 Wyoming court strikes the rule
Wyoming Federal Court Judge Clarence Brimmer finds the Roadless Rule illegal and issues an injunction barring it from taking effect.
Sources: Wyoming v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 277 F. Supp. 2d 1197, 1239 (D. Wyo. 2003)
December 30, 2003 Tongass temporarily exempted
USDA publishes a final rule temporarily exempting the Tongass National Forest from the Roadless Rule.
January 29, 2004 Tongass exemption takes effect
The Tongass exemption takes effect.
Sources: 68 Fed. Reg. 75,136 (Dec. 30, 2003) (effective Jan. 29, 2004)
May 5, 2005 State Petitions Rule
The Bush Administration announces the State Petitions Rule as a substitute for the Roadless Rule, allowing governors to petition for state-specific management requirements.
Sources: 70 Fed. Reg. 25,654–25,662 (May 13, 2005) (signed May 5, 2005)
June 21, 2006 Eastern state petitions approved
The Bush Administration approves petitions from the governors of three Eastern states—Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina—concerning state-specific roadless protections for roughly 555,000 acres of forested land within their borders.
September 20, 2006 Court reinstates the Roadless Rule
Federal District Court Judge Elizabeth Laporte in San Francisco orders reinstatement of the Clinton-era Roadless Rule for almost 50 million acres of national forests and grasslands, generally restricting road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting, subject to exceptions.
February 6, 2007 Final injunction issued
Judge Laporte issues a final injunction, clarifying its application to certain post-May 2005 oil-and-gas authorizations.
August 12, 2008 Wyoming court strikes the rule again
Wyoming Federal District Court Judge Brimmer issues a second decision, very similar to his 2003 decision, invalidating and enjoining the Roadless Rule nationwide.
Sources: Wyoming v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 570 F. Supp. 2d 1309, 1354–1355 (D. Wyo. 2008)
October 16, 2008 Idaho Roadless Rule adopted
The Forest Service adopts the Idaho Roadless Rule.
December 2, 2008 Injunction narrowed
Judge Laporte partially stays her injunction, limiting geographic scope to the Ninth Circuit and New Mexico.
December 5, 2008 Colorado rule postponed
Colorado and Administration officials agree to postpone action on the proposed Colorado Roadless Rule until spring 2009.
Sources: Colorado Secures Delay in Implementation of Roadless Management Plan, Am. Whitewater (Dec. 5, 2008)
August 5, 2009 Ninth Circuit upholds the rule
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upholds Roadless Rule restrictions affecting over 40 million acres of national forests and grasslands, generally limiting road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting.
Sources: California ex rel. Lockyer v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 575 F.3d 999, 1021 (9th Cir. 2009)
May 28, 2010 Secretary review extended
The Obama Administration extends for another year a requirement that certain road construction, road reconstruction, and timber cutting or removal decisions in inventoried roadless areas be reserved to the Secretary of Agriculture.
January 29, 2011 Idaho rule upheld
Idaho District Court upholds the Idaho Roadless Rule.
March 4, 2011 Tongass exemption vacated
Alaska District Court vacates the 2003 Tongass exemption and reinstates the Roadless Rule on the Tongass.
Sources: Organized Village of Kake v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 776 F. Supp. 2d 960, 976–977 (D. Alaska 2011)
October 21, 2011 Tenth Circuit upholds the rule
The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals reverses the Wyoming District Court and directs that the prior injunction be vacated.
Sources: Wyoming v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 661 F.3d 1209, 1272 (10th Cir. 2011)
July 3, 2012 Colorado Roadless Rule adopted
The Forest Service adopts the Colorado Roadless Rule.
March 26, 2014 Tongass exemption revived
A divided panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reverses the 2011 Alaska District Court decision by a 2–1 split vote, reviving the Tongass exemption.
Sources: Organized Village of Kake v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 746 F.3d 970 (9th Cir. 2014)
August 29, 2014 Rehearing en banc granted
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit announces it will re-hear the case challenging the Tongass exemption. The court grants the rehearing en banc, rendering the earlier opinion ineffective.
Sources: Organized Village of Kake v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 765 F.3d 1117 (9th Cir. 2014)
July 29, 2015 Tongass exemption struck down
The Ninth Circuit’s 11-judge en banc panel rules that the exemption of the Tongass from the Roadless Rule was invalid under the Administrative Procedure Act.
Sources: Organized Village of Kake v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 795 F.3d 956, 966–970 (9th Cir. 2015) (en banc)
August 2, 2018 Alaska rulemaking begins
Alaska and the Forest Service enter an agreement as cooperating agencies for an Alaska roadless rulemaking after Alaska petitioned for a Tongass exemption.
Sources: Memorandum of Understanding Between the State of Alaska and USDA Forest Service (Aug. 2, 2018)
October 29, 2020 Tongass exemption finalized
The Trump Administration publishes a final rule exempting the Tongass National Forest from the Roadless Rule.
January 27, 2023 Tongass protections restored
The U.S. Forest Service formally reinstates the 2001 Roadless Rule management regime across the Tongass National Forest, reimposing restrictions on road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting, subject to exceptions, across about 9.37 million acres of land.
September 8, 2023 Utilities sue USDA
Represented by Pacific Legal Foundation, Inside Passage Electric Cooperative and Alaska Power Association file suit against USDA after the agency’s January 2023 decision reinstating the 2001 Roadless Rule on the Tongass National Forest. The USDA lacked statutory authority to reimpose the rule, and the restrictions impede hydroelectric, geothermal, and other infrastructure projects that require road access.
January 20, 2025 Executive order on the Tongass
On his first day in office, President Trump signs an executive order directing the Secretary of Agriculture to reinstate the 2020 Alaska Roadless Rule’s exemption for the Tongass.
Sources: Exec. Order No. 14,153, § 3(c), 90 Fed. Reg. 8,347, 8,350 (Jan. 29, 2025) (signed Jan. 20, 2025)
June 23, 2025 Rescission announced
Agriculture Secretary Rollins announces USDA’s intention to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule, and USDA begins the formal rulemaking process.
Sources: U.S. Dep’t of Agric., Secretary Rollins Rescinds Roadless Rule, Eliminating Impediment to Responsible Forest Management (June 23, 2025); see also 90 Fed. Reg. 42,179 (Aug. 29, 2025)
August 20, 2026 Rescission proposed
The U.S. Forest Service publishes a proposed rule and environmental review for rescinding the Roadless Rule.
Sources: 91 Fed. Reg. 53,827–53,832 (Aug. 20, 2026); see also 91 Fed. Reg. 57,841 (Sept. 11, 2026) (extending comment period)
Timeline adapted from Earthjustice’s “Timeline of the Roadless Rule,” checked against the primary sources linked in each entry. As of Oct. 2026. This timeline is reproduced from the accompanying visualization.