WISCONSIN — On August 18, the US Secretary of Agriculture announced the US Forest service officially filed an official proposal to repeal the Roadless Rule. …The policy currently protects roughly 69,000 acres in Wisconsin, and with the potential repeal of the environmental policy, experts want to be clear about the relationship between roads and wildfires. Most wildfires in the US are caused by people. According to the Fire Research and Management Exchange System, most ignitions began within 50 meters of a road. …Wildfires and the smoke associated with them have become a national issue and the repeal can impact the country as a whole, as drier and hotter weather extends the season. The roadless rule is also open to be repealed to allow for better forestry management, but Stevens-Rumann believes we should focus management and treatment towards areas we already have access to. …Public comment for the proposal has been extended to Oct 6, 2026.