Ban on road construction in national forests is narrowed to only 10 Western states

The ban on creating new roads in national forests, enacted during the Clinton administration, has been narrowed by a federal court decision. The ban now affects only a fourth of the states initially affected.

The 2001 "Roadless Rule" has been subject to judicial tug-of-war over the past few years. the Bush administration overturned the decision in 2005. Judge Elizabeth Laporte invalidated that repeal in 2006, after challenges from environmental groups. But another federal judge invalidated the original rule this August, says a recent Associated Press article.

In an attempt to reconcile the two rulings, Laporte reduced the scope of her decision. While the measure initially covered national forests in almost 40 states, it now only applies to 10 western states. (Read more)