The U.S. Forest Service has proposed exempting the Tongass National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which prohibits tree harvest and road construction within certain protected areas. If finalized, the proposal would permit timber harvest and road construction to occur in areas where such activities were previously banned. The Tongass is the largest national forest in the United States, and is thought to play a significant role in storing carbon.
The notice of proposed rulemaking was published on October 17, 2019, and a draft environmental impact statement was issued the following day. Comments are due on both by December 16, 2019.