Nearly 45,000 Acres Of Remote Forest Land In Northeast Tennessee And More Than 40,000 In Southwest Virginia Could Lose Federal Protections If The Roadless Rule Is Repealed. The Bid To Rescind The 24-Year-Old Rule Was Announced This Week By U.S. Agriculture Secretary Suzanne Rollins. The Rule Currently Bans Road Building And Most Logging In Designated National Forest Areas, Including Holston Mountain, Flint Mill Gap, And Sections Near South Holston Lake. Supporters Say It Preserves Public Land For Recreation, Wildlife, And Clean Water. Opponents, Including Congressman Morgan Griffith, Argue It Limits Fire Prevention And Economic Development. A Public Comment Period And Environmental Review Are Still Required Before Any Final Decision.
