Commissioners to warn Roadless Rule repeal could derail forest plan rewrite
Ahead of its Sept. 14 meeting, Teton County commissioners are set to back a letter warning the U.S. Forest Service that rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule midstream could force new analysis and slow the Bridger-Teton Forest Plan revision.
Teton County’s Board of County Commissioners is set to approve a formal comment letter urging the U.S. Forest Service not to yank the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule while the Bridger-Teton National Forest is rewriting its forest plan, the first full revision since 1990. The letter argues that removing the rule “in the middle of that process” would upend a foundational planning assumption, “require reconsideration of plan analyses and alternatives,” and push the national roadless fight into an already technical, local plan revision where the county is a cooperating agency. Roadless Rule Comment Letter
For wildlife and watersheds, the planning mechanics matter. Forest plans decide, for years at a time, where roads can go, what kind of motorized access is acceptable, and how habitat security for grizzly bears and migratory big game is protected across connected landscapes. The county’s message to federal officials is straightforward: keep the Roadless Rule baseline in place until the Bridger-Teton plan revision is finished, or expect a longer, more legally uncertain process as the Forest Service reworks its analysis mid-course. Roadless Rule Comment Letter
Background
Rescinding the Roadless Rule mid-process could destabilize the Bridger-Teton Forest Plan revision, forcing reconsideration of analyses and prolonging the process, per Teton County's warnings.
Latest: 2026-09 — Teton County Board of Commissioners formally warns that rescinding the Roadless Rule would disrupt the ongoing Forest Plan revision.
curated as of 2026-09-12
Teton County opposes rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule, citing ecological, economic, and planning risks, and urges the No Action Alternative to retain existing protections.
Latest: 2026-09-21 — Board submits a supplemental comment letter, reiterating opposition and emphasizing risks to 315,575 acres of roadless lands in Teton County.
curated as of 2026-09-12
Teton County opposes a national open-access presumption and removal of minimization criteria, citing risks to local planning, resource protection, and emergency services.
Latest: 2026-09-21 — Commissioners submit formal comment letter to US Forest Service opposing national open-access presumption and removal of minimization criteria, requesting retention of current rule or equivalent protections.
curated as of 2026-09-19
Source Documents
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| September 14, 2026 | Roadless Rule Comment Letter | correspondence |