The public will soon have a chance to weigh in on the proposed end to the Clinton-era "roadless rule," which was adopted in 2001 in an effort to protect wild areas from road construction and timber harvesting.

The public comment period will be announced Friday in the Federal Register and remain open until Sept. 19. According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture news release, public comment will help guide the development of an environmental impact statement assessing the potential effects of slashing the rule.

There are 1.6 million acres of "inventoried roadless areas" in New Mexico, which are characterized by large swaths of untouched land, soil and water between roads.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced in Santa Fe at a June meeting of the Western Governors' Association

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