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 comments20 submissions

Position

Opposes rescission 100.0%

Answerability

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

Substance /24

Median 6middle half 6–6 · 1 scored

Topics raised

20 submissions in this letter's group · showing 1–20Clear all filters

Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Sep 14, 2026FS-2025-0001-379292
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely, Jody D Smith
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Sep 7, 2026FS-2025-0001-328506
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. We depend on these water systems to give us clean drinking water which will not run if the ecosystem is contaminated, diverted, or disappeared. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. There is no way that industry of any type can be carried out here without destroying he forest. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely, Nancy Jessup Etowah, NC 28729
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Sep 3, 2026FS-2025-0001-306910
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
Subject: Deep Opposition to the Proposed Repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule Protections for North Carolina’s National Forests (Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests). To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely,
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Sep 3, 2026FS-2025-0001-310626
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely, Lk Fletcher NC 28732
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Sep 3, 2026FS-2025-0001-310854
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
Subject: Deep Opposition to the Proposed Repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule Protections for North Carolina’s National Forests (Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests). To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely, Kim Lawing Asheville, NC
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Sep 2, 2026FS-2025-0001-305707
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Sep 1, 2026FS-2025-0001-299640
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
Subject: Deep Opposition to the Proposed Repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule Protections for North Carolina’s National Forests (Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests). To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely, Lisa Grupe, Henderson County, 28739
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Sep 1, 2026FS-2025-0001-299981
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
To Whom It May Concern, To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely, (F B) Mills River, NC, or 28759
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Sep 1, 2026FS-2025-0001-300479
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
Subject: Deep Opposition to the Proposed Repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule Protections for North Carolina’s National Forests (Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests). To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. Wildlife – we have already degraded and limited habitat for wildlife for decades this will only continue to push wildlife/human interactions and confrontations ultimately ending in loss of wildlife. We cannot allow this rollback of protections of our IRAs to happen, we have got to stop the destruction of our wild places for profit. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely, Mrs. Rogers
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Sep 1, 2026FS-2025-0001-300635
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Sep 1, 2026FS-2025-0001-300643
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
Subject: Deep Opposition to the Proposed Repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule Protections for North Carolina’s National Forests (Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests). To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely, Jeanne O'Brien
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 6/24Aug 31, 2026FS-2025-0001-287615
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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 20 submissions in its group.
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. In Asheville, we already know first-hand of the devastation of our water source during Hurricane Helene. Being without potable water for more than 2 months was a hardship on all of us, financially, health wise, and all. Being subject to wildfires is another excellent reason for protecting our forests. Continuous forests without being broken up by roads are important in the natural management of wildfires. But bureaucrats don't care about people or wildlife. They are heartless "people" who only care about their personal gains. What happens when there aren't enough natural resources to combat the effects of climate events and they are affected personally?? Then would they care????????? Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. We lost tourism - our largest source of revenue - during and after Helene and still have not recovered fully from the damage to our infrastructure and to our tourism dollars. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. This is a heart-breaking thing for those that care about wildlife. Any decent human being would. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely,
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Aug 31, 2026FS-2025-0001-288105
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely, Jennifer Banks
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Aug 31, 2026FS-2025-0001-290428
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Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
Draft Public Comment Subject: Deep Opposition to the Proposed Repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule Protections for North Carolina’s National Forests (Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests). To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely, Laura Armour Clyde NC 28721
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Aug 31, 2026FS-2025-0001-290676
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely, Tammy Wood asheville, NC
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Aug 31, 2026FS-2025-0001-291238
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
Regarding FS-2025-0001 I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Aug 31, 2026FS-2025-0001-291556
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: clean drinking water; the economic impact on tourism and recreation; irreplaceable biodiversity; state's rights. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Aug 31, 2026FS-2025-0001-291571
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
Subject: Deep Opposition to the Proposed Repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule Protections for North Carolina’s National Forests (Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests). August 31, 2026 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments. Sincerely, Rachel Kimmel, resident of Fletcher, North Carolina, 28732
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Aug 31, 2026FS-2025-0001-291575
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
To Whom it may concern, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Lori Weiner
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 5/24Aug 31, 2026FS-2025-0001-293873
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 20 submissions in its group.
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. Rescinding these federal protections places 172,000 acres of pristine, Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) within the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests at immediate risk of commercial logging, industrial development, and habitat-fragmenting road construction. These backcountry areas—including critical watersheds and iconic landscapes like the Linville Gorge, Laurel Mountain, and the South Mills River—are invaluable to the state of North Carolina for several critical reasons: Watershed Protection and Climate Resilience: These 172,000 acres act as a vital, natural filtration system that supplies clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents across Western North Carolina. Maintaining intact, unfragmented forest floors is our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities. Economic Impact on Tourism and Recreation: Western North Carolina’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy relies directly on the wild, uninterrupted nature of these public lands. Opening these backcountry areas to industrial use will permanently degrade the world-class hiking, fly-fishing, and climbing experiences that draw visitors from around the globe and support local businesses. Irreplaceable Biodiversity: The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests harbor unique, ancient ecosystems and endangered wildlife species that cannot survive the disruption brought by heavy machinery and road corridors. Relying solely on local, shifting forest management plans does not offer the permanent, ironclad security that the 2001 Roadless Rule provides. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture to reject this rollback and maintain the full, existing federal protections for North Carolina's backcountry. Thank you for your time and consideration of these public comments.
Full analysis of this comment →

Sharing & methodology

These results are meant to be shared.

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.