On September 17, the Johnson County Commission voted to move forward with a draft letter to the federal government supporting the Trump administration’s proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule on federal lands nationwide. Commission Chair Bill Novotny asked the body whether they wished to proceed with the letter, and the commissioners unanimously agreed to draft and submit it by the October 6 deadline.
Local officials back the federal rescission
Novotny explained that the commission’s role is to provide public comment on the proposed rescission, emphasizing the county’s long‑standing involvement in forest‑management discussions. “We had a very productive call last week with all of the state agencies that are involved with forestry, as well as all the counties that have national forests that are going to be impacted by this decision,” he said.
The commission highlighted its prior comments on the roadless area, noting that Johnson County has consistently recommended that pristine sections of the Bighorn remain untouched while allowing timber harvest in areas the Forest Service has identified as suitable. Novotny pointed out that many of those timber designations were based on outdated mapping technology from the year 2000, leading to inaccuracies that the current administration is prepared to correct.
Trump administration’s decisive action
According to the commissioners, the move to rescind the rule follows a recent technical correction effort by the new administration and culminated in President Trump’s decision to fully eliminate the regulation. The commission views the president’s action as a necessary step to restore local control over forest resources and to correct the overreach of the original 2000 rule.
County officials plan to incorporate the letter into the public record and will seek additional input from residents before finalizing it. The draft will be presented at the next commission meeting, where the public will have an opportunity to comment.
Why the Roadless Rule matters to Johnson County
The Roadless Rule, enacted in 2001, limited timber harvesting and road construction on designated roadless areas of national forests. Supporters argued it protected wildlife habitat and water quality, while critics contended it imposed federal restrictions that ignored local needs and modern forest‑management practices.
Johnson County, which borders portions of the Bighorn National Forest, has a mixed economy of ranching, recreation, and timber. Local leaders argue that a flexible approach—preserving truly pristine sections while allowing responsible timber harvest elsewhere—will benefit both the environment and the county’s economic base.
Next steps
The commission will finalize the letter with input from the public and submit it to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service by the October 6 deadline. County officials intend to monitor the federal response and keep residents informed of any further developments.
By taking this proactive stance, Johnson County joins a growing number of local jurisdictions that are supporting the Trump administration’s effort to return land‑management authority to the states and local communities.
Original reporting: Sheridan Media (Sheridan WY) — read the source article.
