ROADLESS VICTORY: Time Is On Our Side

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Trip Van Noppen, Earthjustice" <action@earthjustice.org>
Date: Mar 26, 2013 6:02 PM
Subject: ROADLESS VICTORY: Time Is On Our Side
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

Dear Daniel, Time has run out for the enemies of roadless wilderness. They spent 12 years trying to kill the national law protecting our forests, and yesterday a federal district court said they couldn't have a minute more—the statute of limitations had run out. This means you better grab a compass when heading into a national forest because you can get lost amid all the trees saved by this law, known as the Roadless Rule. The Rule, signed into existence by President Bill Clinton as he left office in 2001, keeps more than 50 million acres of forested public lands from being shorn by loggers and riddled with roads. The law ensures protections for the biggest sources of our drinking water, and assures sanctuary for many creatures, including us humans. Although most Americans have always supported the Rule, some powerful political and business interests immediately sought its abolition. National forests are tree farms to these folks, who sought to clear cut the lands bare. For eight long years, they had legal allies in the Bush Administration. But the forests had partners of their own: myriad Earthjustice attorneys who over the years fought off all attempts to dismantle the Rule. One of those attorneys, Tom Waldo in our Alaska office, assisted by the NRDC, led the successful legal effort that resulted in yesterday's ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The court rejected the state of Alaska's challenge that, while aimed at the Tongass National Forest, would have nullified the national Rule. There are still some state exemptions from the rule being sought by Alaska and other states, but for all intents and purposes, the national rule is safe from legal challenges. Just the latest reason why the earth needs a good lawyer. Thanks for standing with us in this fight, Trip Van Noppen President, Earthjustice P.S. If you are half as excited about this news as we are, then tell us about your fondest roadless memories on our blog. ©2013 Earthjustice | 50 California Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94111 | 415-217-2000 | action@earthjustice.org  Alert Tools   Photo Credits:   Top-Right: Fireweed covers this open expanse at the foot of a mountain peak, Tongass National Forest, Alaska. (US Forest Service photo)  Bottom-Left: A small, forested island in the middle of a slough, Tongass National Forest, Alaska. (USDA)  View online:   Having trouble viewing this email? View it in a browser. This email was delivered to you by Earthjustice. Update your personal information or remove your email address from Earthjustice's email list through your profile page.