A California judge overturned a 2005 regulation that would have allowed state governors to petition the Forest Service to develop land protected under the Clinton-era roadless rule. The Clinton rule sought to protect 60 million acres of national forests from development. But the Bush administration has repeatedly attempted to undermine the regulations. Now, U.S. Magistrate Elizabeth Laporte has issued another blow to developers by by overturning the 2005 regulation thereby reinstating the roadless rule. Laporte claimed the Bush administration violated federal environmental laws by failing to conduct environmental analysis before issuing the regulation. The decision is a major victory for the four western states (California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington) and 20 environmental groups who filed suit over the legislation. It goes without saying that it’s also a great win for the nation’s forests and those who care to protect them. Read Laporte’s opinion.