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 1middle half 1–1 · 1 scored
Topics raised
Count
Position
Answerability
Substance /24
Order
13 submissions in this letter's group · showing 1–13Clear all filters
  1. Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 1/24Sep 16, 2026FS-2025-0001-425668
    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 the U.S. Department of Agriculture to honor the will of the majority of commenters and withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our government should be protecting wild lands, not promoting their destruction. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits.
    Full analysis of this comment →
  2. Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 1/24Sep 15, 2026FS-2025-0001-412516
    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, USDA, put Americans and our natural world heritage first, not the profit of logging companies. I urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands from new roads and industrial development. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits. Sincerely, [Your information here]
    Full analysis of this comment →
  3. Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 1/24Sep 12, 2026FS-2025-0001-354486
    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 the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands from new roads and industrial development. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits. Public lands belongs to all of us!!! Not just for you Mr Trump!!!! Sincerely, Amy Bidlack I urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands from new roads and industrial development. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits. Public lands belongs to all of us!!! Not just for you Mr Trump!!!! Sincerely , Amy Bidlack
    Full analysis of this comment →
  4. Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 1/24Sep 12, 2026FS-2025-0001-354516
    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 the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands from new roads and industrial development. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits. Sincerely, [Your information here]I urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands from new roads and industrial development. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits. Sincerely, [Your information here]I urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands from new roads and industrial development. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits. Sincerely, Daniel F Kesselring 113 North Drive East Marshall, MI 49068
    Full analysis of this comment →
  5. Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 1/24Sep 12, 2026FS-2025-0001-354965
    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 the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands from new roads and industrial development. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits. Sincerely, Elizabeth A. KUSHIGIAN 819 Drexel Street, Dearborn, MI 48128
    Full analysis of this comment →
  6. Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 1/24Sep 12, 2026FS-2025-0001-356300
    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 the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands from new roads and industrial development. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits. We want to protect this land for future generations! Sincerely, Laurie Muntter
    Full analysis of this comment →
  7. Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 1/24Sep 12, 2026FS-2025-0001-356701
    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.

    We need climate resilience and science-based forest management, not more industrial development. I urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands from new roads and industrial development. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits. Sincerely, Joel R. Brouwer Ph.D. Sincerely, Joel R. Brouwer Ph.D.
    Full analysis of this comment →
  8. Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 1/24Sep 12, 2026FS-2025-0001-370742
    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 in our national forests are critical! Every U.S. citizen is a public land owner, no matter the state, and the benefits of all these backcountry areas benefit all Americans. I urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands from new roads and industrial development. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits. Sincerely, Bentley Johnson
    Full analysis of this comment →
  9. Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Sep 12, 2026FS-2025-0001-371398
    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.

    Our forests are part of our National Heritage. I urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands from new roads and industrial development. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits. Sincerely, Richard Frazin 3364 Tacoma Cir. Ann Arbor, MI 48108
    Full analysis of this comment →
  10. Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 1/24Aug 31, 2026FS-2025-0001-287557
    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 the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands from new roads and industrial development. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits. Lorry Maynard Sincerely, Lorry Maynard
    Full analysis of this comment →
  11. Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 1/24Aug 31, 2026FS-2025-0001-293695
    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 the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands from new roads and industrial development. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits. Sincerely, Thomas Brown, Kentwood, MI, 49508
    Full analysis of this comment →
  12. Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Aug 31, 2026FS-2025-0001-294090
    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.

    My name is Jessica Schwalb, and I'm a resident of Detroit, Michigan. As a young person, I urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands. I'm deeply concerned about losing these lands to new roads and industrial development. Already, so much of Michigan has been polluted. I live next to the Detroit river, and many people I know refuse to swim there because industrial pollution. Protected forestland remains one of the few places that I can go to escape that pollution. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place so that young people like me know that we will have natural areas to visit in the future. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits.
    Full analysis of this comment →
  13. Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 1/24Aug 28, 2026FS-2025-0001-284891
    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.

    I urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Although activities facilitated by roads can be done all across the country, a roadless forest is irreplaceable. The adverse effects of a new road through a previously roadless area can last for a full human lifetime after the road is decommissioned. Nearly 45 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland depend on the Roadless Rule to protect wildfire habitat, drinking water, recreation, and culturally important lands from new roads and industrial development. The Roadless Rule already allows necessary forest management and emergency road construction. Wildfire risk should not be used as an excuse to open protected forests to more logging, mining, and development. We need science-based forest management and climate resilience, not policies that put short-term extraction and profits ahead of long-term stewardship. Please protect America’s national forests and keep the Roadless Rule in place. Our public lands belong to all of us, and taxpayers should not be asked to fund roads that primarily benefit private extraction and profits. Sincerely, Samuel Guffey
    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.
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