WASHINGTON - A federal judge Wednesday reinstated Clinton-era forest protections, overturning the Bush administration's proposal to open one-third of the United States' national forests to logging.

The 58.5 million acres include huge swaths of land across much of the West, along with smaller patches in the East -- in 38 states and in Puerto Rico.

In North Carolina, the decision would impact 174,000 acres of roadless land in the state's Pisgah, Nantahala and Croatan national forests - about 15 percent of the state's national forest land.

Gov. Mike Easley and more than 50,000 state residents have pushed to protect the land, touting its environmental benefits, its contribution to tourism, its black bear population, its riversheds and its contribution to clean drinking water for surrounding communities.

Some of the mountainous areas include land along the Nantahala Gorge and near the Blue Ridge Parkway, popular tourist spots.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Laporte of California's northern district wrote in a 53-page ruling that the federal government failed to take into account the environmental impacts of the new regulation. The plaintiffs included 20 environmental groups and four states: California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington.

The Bush administration is expected to appeal the ruling, though there was no immediate response from the U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday.

Bush reversed Clinton

The case stems from a Clinton-era decision that protects roadless areas of national forest from new development, including logging and mining. Bush instituted a rule in 2005 that opens the land to possible development, while allowing individual states to petition for protection.

Easley was one of the first governors to seek that protection. This spring, staffers from North Carolina made a detailed presentation to federal officials asking for protection. As a result, North Carolina was one of the first states in the nation to have its petition approved. The state and federal government now have been working through a process of developing specific rules.

A spokesman for Easley said Wednesday the office was reviewing the court decision and would have no immediate comment.

But local environmental groups said the ruling was good news for the state.

"North Carolina's wild forests are once again safe from logging and road-building," Margaret Hartzell, field associate for Environment North Carolina said in a statement. "These pristine areas can be enjoyed by generations of future North Carolinians."

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