Bloomberg.com: U.S.

Bloomberg.com: U.S.: "U.S. Rule Opens National Forests to Road Building (Update2)

May 5 (Bloomberg) -- The Bush administration today issued rules that could open up as many as 58.5 million acres of U.S. forestland to road building, logging, mining and other commercial purposes, clearing the last remnants of a ban imposed in 2001.

The U.S. Forest Service can begin allowing 34.3 million acres of national lands to be opened to road building as early as next week, and the rule gives state governors the option to request use for an additional 24.2 million acres. The Agriculture Department said states have 18 months to protest the changes."