Luján Statement on Trump Administration Rescinding “Roadless Rule”

Santa Fe, N.M. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement on the Trump administration’s announcement that it will end the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule: “New Mexicans are facing another devastating fire season, and the Trump administration needs to listen to the communities living with these impacts every day. The Roadless Rule protects nearly 1.6 million acres, preserving our forests and the outdoor recreation economy that supports nearly 30,000 jobs and brings billions of dollars to our state. As fires continue to threaten our state, adding roads and increasing development could make communities even more vulnerable to the impacts of wildfire. New Mexicans must be heard.” Luján and the New Mexico Delegation previously urged the Trump administration to omit New Mexico from the rescission, saying, “We are concerned that rolling back this rule would hurt our state’s economy, diminish its wildlife, and endanger its residents.”