EUGENE — Sen. Mike Lee led an amendment to the S.140 Wildfire Prevention Act of 2025 that would nullify the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule.

In April, FUSEE (Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics & Ecology) wrote a letter to Congress regarding roadless areas. The letter was signed by 118 wildland firefighters.

Tom Derungs stated, "Opening up roadless areas to new road construction will only create more wildfire starts." He said, "The logging roads in steep backcountry areas are also bad tactical ground for holding fire lines and staging crews." Derungs added, "Wilderness roads disrupt endangered wildlife, threaten our clean drinking water and soft backcountry recreation." He said, "They scar our beautiful landscape and state." Derungs stated, "This new amendment to S140 is a major threat to our environmental future and over 25 million acres of national public forest." He said, "People's lives are at stake." Derungs stated, "It is crucial for all of us to write our senators and implore them to vote down this amended bill." He added, "We also need to urge Congress to co-sponsor the H.R. 3930 Roadless Area Conservation Act sponsored by our own Oregon Rep. Andrea Salinas."

Will Watson stated, "Post-fire logging doesn't prevent wildfire." He said, "Logging roads spread fire into the backcountry." Watson stated, "Monoculture tree plantations are not conducive to wildlife." He said, "Lumber is not a good way to store greenhouse gases." Watson stated, "Logging is the biggest source of greenhouse gases in Oregon." He said, "Strange as it may seem, the USA is experiencing a fire deficit." Watson stated, "2020 was, historically, an average fire year." He said, "Money talks, I guess." Watson stated, "Science walks." He said, "Don't people know they're killing me?" Watson stated, "Truth is pretty much for sale, like everything else, including you."