Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has issued a statement following the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) decision to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule. This rule had implications for areas such as the Little Missouri National Grassland.

Hoeven expressed his support for this move, stating, "Rolling back the restrictive roadless rule is an important step in helping to ensure access to the grasslands and putting decision-making back into the hands of locals who know best how to manage these lands. We appreciate Secretary Rollins and USDA for working to rescind this rule and to provide more local control over our federal lands." He emphasized that this deregulation aligns with ongoing efforts to ensure section line rights-of-way are respected within the Little Missouri National Grasslands.

The senator continues his collaboration with USDA on various grassland management issues. These include addressing disputes between North Dakota and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) concerning section lines in the Little Missouri National Grasslands, which are crucial for ranchers needing access to cattle grazing on USFS lands. Additionally, Hoeven is coordinating with local ranchers and rural fire departments on wildfire management strategies.