To provide that the final rule titled "Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation" and issued on January 12, 2001 (66 Fed. Reg. 3244) shall have no force or effect and require the Secretary of Agriculture to construct certain roads on National Forest System lands, and for other purposes.

# Summary of HR 7695 **What the Bill Would Do** This bill would overturn the "Roadless Area Conservation Rule," a regulation issued in 2001 that protects nearly 60 million acres of National Forest land from road construction and logging. If passed, the bill would eliminate this protection and require the Secretary of Agriculture to build roads on designated National Forest lands. The bill's exact scope regarding which roads must be built is unclear from the title alone. **Who It Affects** The bill would primarily affect environmental groups, timber and mining industries, outdoor recreation advocates, and local communities near National Forests.

States with significant National Forest acreage—particularly Wyoming, where the bill's sponsor is from—would see changes in how their forest lands are managed and developed. **Current Status** HR 7695 is currently in committee and has not advanced further in the legislative process. The bill represents ongoing debate over how to balance resource extraction, economic development, and environmental conservation on public lands.