Roadless Rule Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 31, 2026

Contacto:
Keagan Zoellner
Montana Mountain Mamas State Director
keagan@mtnmamas.org
406.871.2153

Mountain Mamas Condemns USDA Proposal to Rescind National Roadless Rule, Urges Families to Submit Substantive Comments Before September 21 Deadline

As the U.S. Department of Agriculture moves to repeal protections across nearly 45 million acres of pristine national forest lands, grassroots mothers call for action to safeguard clean water, wildlife, and our children’s outdoor heritage.

BOZEMAN, MT — Mountain Mamas, the primary grassroots organizing arm of mothers across the West, today strongly condemned the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement to fully rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This policy has shielded roughly 45 million acres of undeveloped national forest lands from industrial-scale logging and new road construction for 25 years.

Mountain Mamas emphasizes that the legacy we leave for our kids depends on keeping these last wild landscapes intact.”Our children inherit the public lands we choose to protect today,” said Keagan Zoellner, Montana State Director for Mountain Mamas. “Intact open spaces are part of our children’s inheritance. We believe these wild places are a birthright that must be passed down whole, not fragmented by industrial development.”

Rescinding the Roadless Rule puts our community drinking water supplies, vital wildlife migration corridors, and pristine backcountry recreation areas directly on the chopping block. We refuse to leave a scarred landscape to our kids when we still have a voice.” The Roadless Rule protects critical headwaters, clean trout streams, and intact ecosystems. New roads will increase the risk of wildfires at a time when the administration’s DOGE cuts and Forest Service reorganization plans are increasing long-term wildfire risk and safety.

With the public comment window closing on September 21, 2026, Mountain Mamas is mobilizing families and outdoor enthusiasts to make their voices heard. For guidance and tools on how to write an effective comment, visit www.mtnmamas.org/public-lands-protection

“We have a very short window to protect the places where our children experience true wilderness,” Keagan Zoellner of Mountain Mamas stated. “We urge everyone who hunts, fishes, hikes or loves our public lands to take a few minutes before midnight on September 21 to submit a comment telling the Forest Service to keep the Roadless Rule intact.”

Acerca de Mamás de montaña

Mountain Mamas is a community of mothers dedicated to protecting public lands, clean air, clean water, and a healthy climate for future generations. Learn more at www.mtnmamas.org