The Public Record · Docket FS-2025-0001

Read the comments.

Every public comment on the proposed rescission of the Roadless Rule, sorted by what it talks about. Pick a topic, then narrow by position, by how hard the comment is for the agency to set aside, or by how substantive it is. Each comment is shown in full, as filed. How comments are classified and scored is explained in the Comment Analysis.

1 unique comments13 submissions

Position

Opposes rescission 100.0%

Answerability

A1 strong 0
A2 moderate 0
A3 weak 0
A0 none 1

Substance /24

Median 4middle half 4–4 · 1 scored

Topics raised

13 submissions in this letter's group · showing 1–13Clear all filters

Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Sep 9, 2026FS-2025-0001-339676
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 13 submissions in its group.
California's inventoried roadless areas are where our rivers begin. They shelter the headwaters and cold-water refuges that native trout, wild salmon, and steelhead need to survive, especially as our waters warm. If the Roadless Rule is rescinded, some of the state's wildest backcountry could be opened to new road building and logging, and the consequences flow straight downstream: Sediment smothers spawning gravel. Road building is one of the largest sources of fine sediment in forested watersheds. That sediment buries the clean gravel salmon and trout need to spawn and chokes the cold, clear water they depend on. New roads mean new barriers. Culverts and stream crossings fragment rivers and block fish passage, cutting fish off from the habitat they need. Reconnecting these rivers is core to our work, and rescinding the Roadless Rule pushes in exactly the wrong direction. Healthy forests mean resilient watersheds. Intact roadless areas protect drinking water sources, keep watersheds functioning, and limit the human-caused disturbance that drives wildfire ignitions, since most wildfires start near roads.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Aug 27, 2026FS-2025-0001-274631
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 13 submissions in its group.
California's inventoried roadless areas are where our rivers begin. They shelter the headwaters and cold-water refuges that native trout, wild salmon, and steelhead need to survive, especially as our waters warm. If the Roadless Rule is rescinded, some of the state's wildest backcountry could be opened to new road building and logging, and the consequences flow straight downstream: Sediment smothers spawning gravel. Road building is one of the largest sources of fine sediment in forested watersheds. That sediment buries the clean gravel salmon and trout need to spawn and chokes the cold, clear water they depend on. New roads mean new barriers. Culverts and stream crossings fragment rivers and block fish passage, cutting fish off from the habitat they need. Reconnecting these rivers is core to our work, and rescinding the Roadless Rule pushes in exactly the wrong direction. Healthy forests mean resilient watersheds. Intact roadless areas protect drinking water sources, keep watersheds functioning, and limit the human-caused disturbance that drives wildfire ignitions, since most wildfires start near roads.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Aug 24, 2026FS-2025-0001-261917
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 13 submissions in its group.
I urge you to NOT rescind the Roadless Rule and to keep all of its protections intact. California's roadless areas are where our rivers begin. They shelter the headwaters and cold-water refuges that native trout, wild salmon, and steelhead need to survive, especially as our waters warm. If the Roadless Rule is rescinded, some of the state's wildest backcountry could be opened to new road building and logging, and the consequences flow straight downstream. Sediment smothers spawning gravel. Road building is one of the largest sources of fine sediment in forested watersheds. That sediment buries the clean gravel salmon and trout need to spawn and chokes the cold, clear water they depend on. New roads mean new barriers. Culverts and stream crossings fragment rivers and block fish passage, cutting fish off from the habitat they need. Reconnecting these rivers is core to our work, and rescinding the Roadless Rule pushes in exactly the wrong direction. Healthy forests mean resilient watersheds. Intact roadless areas protect drinking water sources, keep watersheds functioning, and limit the human-caused disturbance that drives wildfire ignitions, since most wildfires start near roads. The only environmentally and economically responsible choice for Californians and all Americans is to limit destruction and development of inventoried roadless areas.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Aug 24, 2026FS-2025-0001-265659
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 13 submissions in its group.
Please do not rescind the Roadless Rule. Sediment smothers spawning gravel. Road building is one of the largest sources of fine sediment in forested watersheds. That sediment buries the clean gravel salmon and trout need to spawn and chokes the cold, clear water they depend on. New roads mean new barriers. Culverts and stream crossings fragment rivers and block fish passage, cutting fish off from the habitat they need. Reconnecting these rivers is core to our work, and rescinding the Roadless Rule pushes in exactly the wrong direction. Healthy forests mean resilient watersheds. Intact roadless areas protect drinking water sources, keep watersheds functioning, and limit the human-caused disturbance that drives wildfire ignitions, since most wildfires start near roads.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Aug 23, 2026FS-2025-0001-258389
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 13 submissions in its group.
Sediment smothers spawning gravel. Road building is one of the largest sources of fine sediment in forested watersheds. That sediment buries the clean gravel salmon and trout need to spawn and chokes the cold, clear water they depend on. Please keep wilderness areas roadless.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Aug 22, 2026FS-2025-0001-244282
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 13 submissions in its group.
I oppose rescinding the Roadless Rule. California's inventoried roadless areas are where our rivers begin. They shelter the headwaters and cold-water refuges that native trout, wild salmon, and steelhead need to survive, especially as our waters warm. If the Roadless Rule is rescinded, some of the state's wildest backcountry could be opened to new road building and logging, and the consequences flow straight downstream: Sediment smothers spawning gravel. Road building is one of the largest sources of fine sediment in forested watersheds. That sediment buries the clean gravel salmon and trout need to spawn and chokes the cold, clear water they depend on. New roads mean new barriers. Culverts and stream crossings fragment rivers and block fish passage, cutting fish off from the habitat they need. Reconnecting these rivers is core to our work, and rescinding the Roadless Rule pushes in exactly the wrong direction. Healthy forests mean resilient watersheds. Intact roadless areas protect drinking water sources, keep watersheds functioning, and limit the human-caused disturbance that drives wildfire ignitions, since most wildfires start near roads. Thank you for considering my concerns.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Aug 22, 2026FS-2025-0001-244369
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 13 submissions in its group.
I am not supporting rescinding the Roadless Rule. Doing so stands to impact watersheds and fish populations in the following ways. Sediment smothers spawning gravel. Road building is one of the largest sources of fine sediment in forested watersheds. That sediment buries the clean gravel salmon and trout need to spawn and chokes the cold, clear water they depend on. New roads mean new barriers. Culverts and stream crossings fragment rivers and block fish passage, cutting fish off from the habitat they need. Reconnecting these rivers is core to our work, and rescinding the Roadless Rule pushes in exactly the wrong direction. Healthy forests mean resilient watersheds. Intact roadless areas protect drinking water sources, keep watersheds functioning, and limit the human-caused disturbance that drives wildfire ignitions, since most wildfires start near roads.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Aug 22, 2026FS-2025-0001-247922
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 13 submissions in its group.
California's roadless areas are where our rivers begin. They shelter the headwaters and cold-water refuges that native trout, wild salmon, and steelhead need to survive, especially as our waters warm. If the Roadless Rule is rescinded, some of the state's wildest backcountry could be opened to new road building and logging, and the consequences flow straight downstream: Sediment smothers spawning gravel. Road building is one of the largest sources of fine sediment in forested watersheds. That sediment buries the clean gravel salmon and trout need to spawn and chokes the cold, clear water they depend on. New roads mean new barriers. Culverts and stream crossings fragment rivers and block fish passage, cutting fish off from the habitat they need. Reconnecting these rivers is necessary to alleviate these problems, and rescinding the Roadless Rule would further add to these problems. Healthy forests mean resilient watersheds. Intact roadless areas protect drinking water sources, keep watersheds functioning, and limit the human-caused disturbance that drives wildfire ignitions, since most wildfires start near roads. That is why I believe we need to keep our wilderness areas road free.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Aug 21, 2026FS-2025-0001-235557
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.This comment stands for all 13 submissions in its group.
A few reasons to NOT rescind the roadless rule below. Sediment smothers spawning gravel for fish. Road building is one of the largest sources of fine sediment in forested watersheds. That sediment buries the clean gravel salmon and trout need to spawn and chokes the cold, clear water they depend on. New roads mean new barriers. Culverts and stream crossings fragment rivers and block fish passage, cutting fish off from the habitat they need. Reconnecting these rivers is core to our work, and rescinding the Roadless Rule pushes in exactly the wrong direction. Healthy forests mean resilient watersheds. Intact roadless areas protect drinking water sources, keep watersheds functioning, and limit the human-caused disturbance that drives wildfire ignitions, since most wildfires start near roads.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Aug 21, 2026FS-2025-0001-235905
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 13 submissions in its group.
Dear US Forest Service and Other Relavent Persons/Agencies, I urge you to NOT rescind the Roadless Rule. This is critical to America's watersheds, clean water, wild fish, and the communities that depend on healthy rivers. Here's why this matters to California's and America's inventoried roadless areas are where our rivers begin. They shelter the headwaters and cold-water refuges that native trout, wild salmon, and steelhead need to survive, especially as our waters warm. If the Roadless Rule is rescinded, some of the state's wildest backcountry could be opened to new road building and logging, and the consequences flow straight downstream: Sediment smothers spawning gravel. Road building is one of the largest sources of fine sediment in forested watersheds. That sediment buries the clean gravel salmon and trout need to spawn and chokes the cold, clear water they depend on. New roads mean new barriers. Culverts and stream crossings fragment rivers and block fish passage, cutting fish off from the habitat they need. Reconnecting these rivers is core to our work, and rescinding the Roadless Rule pushes in exactly the wrong direction. Healthy forests mean resilient watersheds. Intact roadless areas protect drinking water sources, keep watersheds functioning, and limit the human-caused disturbance that drives wildfire ignitions, since most wildfires start near roads. Please consider these ecologically-sensitive areas before giving them away to industries. So much will be lost from the value of our outdoor assets, that cannot be recovered. The future of our land is in your hands. Rick Russo
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Aug 21, 2026FS-2025-0001-236503
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 13 submissions in its group.
Roadless areas are where rivers begin. They shelter the headwaters and cold-water refuges that native trout, wild salmon, and steelhead need to survive, especially as our waters warm. Sediment smothers spawning gravel. Road building is one of the largest sources of fine sediment in forested watersheds. That sediment buries the clean gravel salmon and trout need to spawn and chokes the cold, clear water they depend on. New roads mean new barriers. Culverts and stream crossings fragment rivers and block fish passage, cutting fish off from the habitat they need. Reconnecting these rivers is core to our work, and rescinding the Roadless Rule pushes in exactly the wrong direction. Healthy forests mean resilient watersheds. Intact roadless areas protect drinking water sources, keep watersheds functioning, and limit the human-caused disturbance that drives wildfire ignitions, since most wildfires start near roads. Please leave the Roadless Rules in place to protect fish and wildlife for future generations. Steve Sturken St. Louis, Mo
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Aug 21, 2026FS-2025-0001-237152
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 13 submissions in its group.
Stop this nonsense now. California's inventoried roadless areas are where our rivers begin. They shelter the headwaters and cold-water refuges that native trout, wild salmon, and steelhead need to survive, especially as our waters warm. If the Roadless Rule is rescinded, some of the state's wildest backcountry could be opened to new road building and logging, and the consequences flow straight downstream: Sediment smothers spawning gravel. Road building is one of the largest sources of fine sediment in forested watersheds. That sediment buries the clean gravel salmon and trout need to spawn and chokes the cold, clear water they depend on. New roads mean new barriers. Culverts and stream crossings fragment rivers and block fish passage, cutting fish off from the habitat they need. Reconnecting these rivers is core to our work, and rescinding the Roadless Rule pushes in exactly the wrong direction. Healthy forests mean resilient watersheds. Intact roadless areas protect drinking water sources, keep watersheds functioning, and limit the human-caused disturbance that drives wildfire ignitions, since most wildfires start near roads.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Aug 21, 2026FS-2025-0001-242166
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 13 submissions in its group.
f the Roadless Rule is rescinded, some of the state's wildest backcountry could be opened to new road building and logging, and the consequences flow straight downstream: Sediment smothers spawning gravel. Road building is one of the largest sources of fine sediment in forested watersheds. That sediment buries the clean gravel salmon and trout need to spawn and chokes the cold, clear water they depend on. New roads mean new barriers. Culverts and stream crossings fragment rivers and block fish passage, cutting fish off from the habitat they need. Reconnecting these rivers is core to our work, and rescinding the Roadless Rule pushes in exactly the wrong direction. Healthy forests mean resilient watersheds. Intact roadless areas protect drinking water sources, keep watersheds functioning, and limit the human-caused disturbance that drives wildfire ignitions, since most wildfires start near roads.
Full analysis of this comment →

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Please cite us. This analysis is the intellectual property of Roadless.org and Nicholas Holshouser. You are welcome to reproduce it — every reproduction must include this citation:

Roadless.org and Nicholas Holshouser, “2001 Roadless Rule Revision — Substantive Analysis,” https://roadless.org.

How it works. A large language model (an open-weight Qwen3.8 model) reads each substantive comment and copies, word for word, the passages that carry its analytical gap, evidence, request, alternative and connection to the place; it returns no scores. Code grades those passages 0–3 on eight dimensions — evidence, legal grounding, engagement with the environmental analysis, analytical gaps, alternatives, specific requests, position, and local knowledge — with legal grounding taken from a citation scan, not the model. For the strongest tenth on each side, the copied passages are checked against the comment and shown as exhibits. A comment counts as “substantive” when it clears a floor filter — it must show at least one substantive signal (a named entity, a specific citation, a stated analytical deficiency, or first-person testimony), which screens out one-line and purely conclusory submissions before any model scoring.

The full method. Every step, why it is done that way, its known limits and a glossary: Methodologies →

The data. The full canonical dataset — every comment on Docket FS-2025-0001 — is available from Regulations.gov's bulk download, the canonical source: https://www.regulations.gov/bulkdownload. Download the CSV directly (Regulations.gov keeps this link working until October 18, 2026): https://bulk-downloads.regulations.gov/mv4-z8fw-q5jx.csv.

Roadless.org — analysis of the public comment docket.
Media inquiries welcome — nicholas@wanderingnature.com.