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 comments11 submissions
Position
  • Opposes rescission 100.0%
Answerability
  • A1 strong 0
  • A2 moderate 0
  • A3 weak 1
  • A0 none 0
Substance /24
Median 6middle half 6–6 · 1 scored
Topics raised
Count
Position
Answerability
Substance /24
Order
11 submissions in this letter's group · showing 1–11Clear all filters
  1. Opposes rescissionA3 weakSubstance 6/24Owed an answerOct 7, 2026FS-2025-0001-606473
    PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW

    Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 11 submissions in its group.

    I am writing in opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, docket FS-2025-0001, and to ask the Forest Service to select the no-action alternative. The agency calls this wildfire policy, but its own 2020 research found roadless and roaded forests burn at similar rates, and fires are far likelier to start near a road than in roadless forest. About 91 percent of Oregon roadless forest, some 1.66 million acres, sits in municipal watersheds serving roughly 800,000 people, and roads send sediment into the cold streams that marbled murrelets and coho depend on. More than 625,000 comments came in during 2025, a 2026 Pew poll found 76 percent of voters want the rule kept, and the agency faces an 11.2 billion dollar road-maintenance backlog while proposing to build more. Roadless national forests are among the best remaining habitat for species already in trouble, giving refuge to hundreds of vulnerable wildlife species (Dietz et al., 2021). On the Oregon coast that means salmon, elk, and seabirds like the marbled murrelet, all of which depend on unroaded, unfragmented forest and the cold, clean streams that roads degrade. Roadless forests store carbon far out of proportion to their size. On national forest lands, inventoried roadless areas hold about 22 percent of the mature-forest carbon and 27 percent of the old-growth carbon (Birdsey et al., 2025). Logging them releases carbon we cannot afford to lose and cannot quickly get back. Outdoor recreation is a major Oregon industry, supporting about 192,000 jobs, 16 billion dollars in spending, and 12.4 billion dollars of the state economy (Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, 2022). Roadless backcountry is the setting for much of the hunting, fishing, and hiking that sustains it, and new roads and logging trade a recurring economy for a one-time cut. I spend a lot of time in the Siuslaw, Santiam,Umpqua,Rogue River,siskiyo, forests camping boating fishing and exploring. These lands need to be protected. For these reasons I ask the Forest Service to withdraw the proposal and retain the 2001 Roadless Rule. Thank you for considering my comment.
    Full analysis of this comment →
  2. Opposes rescissionA3 weakSubstance 6/24Owed an answerOct 7, 2026FS-2025-0001-610831
    PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW

    Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 11 submissions in its group.

    I am writing in opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, docket FS-2025-0001, and to ask the Forest Service to select the no-action alternative. The agency calls this wildfire policy, but its own 2020 research found roadless and roaded forests burn at similar rates, and fires are far likelier to start near a road than in roadless forest. About 91 percent of Oregon roadless forest, some 1.66 million acres, sits in municipal watersheds serving roughly 800,000 people, and roads send sediment into the cold streams that marbled murrelets and coho depend on. More than 625,000 comments came in during 2025, a 2026 Pew poll found 76 percent of voters want the rule kept, and the agency faces an 11.2 billion dollar road-maintenance backlog while proposing to build more. Roadless national forests are among the best remaining habitat for species already in trouble, giving refuge to hundreds of vulnerable wildlife species (Dietz et al., 2021). On the Oregon coast that means salmon, elk, and seabirds like the marbled murrelet, all of which depend on unroaded, unfragmented forest and the cold, clean streams that roads degrade. Roadless forests store carbon far out of proportion to their size. On national forest lands, inventoried roadless areas hold about 22 percent of the mature-forest carbon and 27 percent of the old-growth carbon (Birdsey et al., 2025). Logging them releases carbon we cannot afford to lose and cannot quickly get back. Outdoor recreation is a major Oregon industry, supporting about 192,000 jobs, 16 billion dollars in spending, and 12.4 billion dollars of the state economy (Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, 2022). Roadless backcountry is the setting for much of the hunting, fishing, and hiking that sustains it, and new roads and logging trade a recurring economy for a one-time cut. I love hood river area For these reasons I ask the Forest Service to withdraw the proposal and retain the 2001 Roadless Rule. Thank you for considering my comment.
    Full analysis of this comment →
  3. Opposes rescissionA3 weakSubstance 6/24Owed an answerOct 5, 2026FS-2025-0001-555627
    PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW

    Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 11 submissions in its group.

    I am writing in opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, docket FS-2025-0001, and to ask the Forest Service to select the no-action alternative. The agency calls this wildfire policy, but its own 2020 research found roadless and roaded forests burn at similar rates, and fires are far likelier to start near a road than in roadless forest. About 91 percent of Oregon roadless forest, some 1.66 million acres, sits in municipal watersheds serving roughly 800,000 people, and roads send sediment into the cold streams that marbled murrelets and coho depend on. More than 625,000 comments came in during 2025, a 2026 Pew poll found 76 percent of voters want the rule kept, and the agency faces an 11.2 billion dollar road-maintenance backlog while proposing to build more. Roadless national forests are among the best remaining habitat for species already in trouble, giving refuge to hundreds of vulnerable wildlife species (Dietz et al., 2021). On the Oregon coast that means salmon, elk, and seabirds like the marbled murrelet, all of which depend on unroaded, unfragmented forest and the cold, clean streams that roads degrade. Roadless forests store carbon far out of proportion to their size. On national forest lands, inventoried roadless areas hold about 22 percent of the mature-forest carbon and 27 percent of the old-growth carbon (Birdsey et al., 2025). Logging them releases carbon we cannot afford to lose and cannot quickly get back. Outdoor recreation is a major Oregon industry, supporting about 192,000 jobs, 16 billion dollars in spending, and 12.4 billion dollars of the state economy (Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, 2022). Roadless backcountry is the setting for much of the hunting, fishing, and hiking that sustains it, and new roads and logging trade a recurring economy for a one-time cut. I walk these trails and cherish the natural beauty of Oregon. I take pride that the Pacific Crest Trail goes through our Forests and open spaces. I currently live on the coast and recreate throughout the year in the mountains and forests of oregon”s outdoors where no cars can get to. This rule puts those places in harms way. There are endangered wildlife and species that we need to protect. And above all, water is life! Please protect our waterways, not put them in harm’s way with the risk of erosion. For these reasons I ask the Forest Service to withdraw the proposal and retain the 2001 Roadless Rule. Thank you for considering my comment.
    Full analysis of this comment →
  4. Opposes rescissionA3 weakSubstance 6/24Owed an answerOct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-541100
    PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW

    Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 11 submissions in its group.

    I am writing in opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, docket FS-2025-0001, and to ask the Forest Service to select the no-action alternative. Roadless national forests are among the best remaining habitat for species already in trouble, giving refuge to hundreds of vulnerable wildlife species (Dietz et al., 2021). On the Oregon coast that means salmon, elk, and seabirds like the marbled murrelet, all of which depend on unroaded, unfragmented forest and the cold, clean streams that roads degrade. Roadless forests store carbon far out of proportion to their size. On national forest lands, inventoried roadless areas hold about 22 percent of the mature-forest carbon and 27 percent of the old-growth carbon (Birdsey et al., 2025). Logging them releases carbon we cannot afford to lose and cannot quickly get back. Please do everything in your power to protect the little wildlife we have left. For these reasons I ask the Forest Service to withdraw the proposal and retain the 2001 Roadless Rule. Thank you for considering my comment.
    Full analysis of this comment →
  5. Opposes rescissionA3 weakSubstance 6/24Owed an answerOct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-541650
    PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW

    Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 11 submissions in its group.

    I am writing in opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, docket FS-2025-0001, and to ask the Forest Service to select the no-action alternative. About 91 percent of Oregon roadless forest, some 1.66 million acres, sits in municipal watersheds serving roughly 800,000 people, and roads send sediment into the cold streams that marbled murrelets and coho depend on. More than 625,000 comments came in during 2025, a 2026 Pew poll found 76 percent of voters want the rule kept, and the agency faces an 11.2 billion dollar road-maintenance backlog while proposing to build more. Roadless national forests are among the best remaining habitat for species already in trouble, giving refuge to hundreds of vulnerable wildlife species (Dietz et al., 2021). On the Oregon coast that means salmon, elk, and seabirds like the marbled murrelet, all of which depend on unroaded, unfragmented forest and the cold, clean streams that roads degrade. Roadless forests store carbon far out of proportion to their size. On national forest lands, inventoried roadless areas hold about 22 percent of the mature-forest carbon and 27 percent of the old-growth carbon (Birdsey et al., 2025). Logging them releases carbon we cannot afford to lose and cannot quickly get back. Outdoor recreation is a major Oregon industry, supporting about 192,000 jobs, 16 billion dollars in spending, and 12.4 billion dollars of the state economy (Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, 2022). Roadless backcountry is the setting for much of the hunting, fishing, and hiking that sustains it, and new roads and logging trade a recurring economy for a one-time cut. I grew up camping, fishing, hiking, and photographing wildlife in this forest. It was—and still is—a huge part of what fostered my love for and connection to nature. Those childhood experiences shaped my understanding as an adult of what it means to live in reciprocity with the natural world, and taught me to deeply value wild spaces beyond anything monetary—for both the people who find connection within them and the other species who call them home. For these reasons I ask the Forest Service to withdraw the proposal and retain the 2001 Roadless Rule. Thank you for considering my comment.
    Full analysis of this comment →
  6. Opposes rescissionA3 weakSubstance 6/24Owed an answerOct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-543621
    PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW

    Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 11 submissions in its group.

    I am writing in opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, docket FS-2025-0001, and to ask the Forest Service to select the no-action alternative. The agency calls this wildfire policy, but its own 2020 research found roadless and roaded forests burn at similar rates, and fires are far likelier to start near a road than in roadless forest. About 91 percent of Oregon roadless forest, some 1.66 million acres, sits in municipal watersheds serving roughly 800,000 people, and roads send sediment into the cold streams that marbled murrelets and coho depend on. More than 625,000 comments came in during 2025, a 2026 Pew poll found 76 percent of voters want the rule kept, and the agency faces an 11.2 billion dollar road-maintenance backlog while proposing to build more. Roadless national forests are among the best remaining habitat for species already in trouble, giving refuge to hundreds of vulnerable wildlife species (Dietz et al., 2021). On the Oregon coast that means salmon, elk, and seabirds like the marbled murrelet, all of which depend on unroaded, unfragmented forest and the cold, clean streams that roads degrade. Roadless forests store carbon far out of proportion to their size. On national forest lands, inventoried roadless areas hold about 22 percent of the mature-forest carbon and 27 percent of the old-growth carbon (Birdsey et al., 2025). Logging them releases carbon we cannot afford to lose and cannot quickly get back. For these reasons I ask the Forest Service to withdraw the proposal and retain the 2001 Roadless Rule. Thank you for considering my comment.
    Full analysis of this comment →
  7. Opposes rescissionA3 weakSubstance 6/24Owed an answerOct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-544278
    PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW

    Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 11 submissions in its group.

    I am writing in opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, docket FS-2025-0001, and to ask the Forest Service to select the no-action alternative. The agency calls this wildfire policy, but its own 2020 research found roadless and roaded forests burn at similar rates, and fires are far likelier to start near a road than in roadless forest. About 91 percent of Oregon roadless forest, some 1.66 million acres, sits in municipal watersheds serving roughly 800,000 people, and roads send sediment into the cold streams that marbled murrelets and coho depend on. More than 625,000 comments came in during 2025, a 2026 Pew poll found 76 percent of voters want the rule kept, and the agency faces an 11.2 billion dollar road-maintenance backlog while proposing to build more. Roadless national forests are among the best remaining habitat for species already in trouble, giving refuge to hundreds of vulnerable wildlife species (Dietz et al., 2021). On the Oregon coast that means salmon, elk, and seabirds like the marbled murrelet, all of which depend on unroaded, unfragmented forest and the cold, clean streams that roads degrade. Outdoor recreation is a major Oregon industry, supporting about 192,000 jobs, 16 billion dollars in spending, and 12.4 billion dollars of the state economy (Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, 2022). Roadless backcountry is the setting for much of the hunting, fishing, and hiking that sustains it, and new roads and logging trade a recurring economy for a one-time cut. For these reasons I ask the Forest Service to withdraw the proposal and retain the 2001 Roadless Rule. Thank you for considering my comment.
    Full analysis of this comment →
  8. Opposes rescissionA3 weakSubstance 6/24Owed an answerSep 22, 2026FS-2025-0001-464394
    PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW

    Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 11 submissions in its group.

    I am writing in opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, docket FS-2025-0001, and to ask the Forest Service to select the no-action alternative. The agency calls this wildfire policy, but its own 2020 research found roadless and roaded forests burn at similar rates, and fires are far likelier to start near a road than in roadless forest. About 91 percent of Oregon roadless forest, some 1.66 million acres, sits in municipal watersheds serving roughly 800,000 people, and roads send sediment into the cold streams that marbled murrelets and coho depend on. More than 625,000 comments came in during 2025, a 2026 Pew poll found 76 percent of voters want the rule kept, and the agency faces an 11.2 billion dollar road-maintenance backlog while proposing to build more. Roadless national forests are among the best remaining habitat for species already in trouble, giving refuge to hundreds of vulnerable wildlife species (Dietz et al., 2021). On the Oregon coast that means salmon, elk, and seabirds like the marbled murrelet, all of which depend on unroaded, unfragmented forest and the cold, clean streams that roads degrade. Roadless forests store carbon far out of proportion to their size. On national forest lands, inventoried roadless areas hold about 22 percent of the mature-forest carbon and 27 percent of the old-growth carbon (Birdsey et al., 2025). Logging them releases carbon we cannot afford to lose and cannot quickly get back. Outdoor recreation is a major Oregon industry, supporting about 192,000 jobs, 16 billion dollars in spending, and 12.4 billion dollars of the state economy (Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, 2022). Roadless backcountry is the setting for much of the hunting, fishing, and hiking that sustains it, and new roads and logging trade a recurring economy for a one-time cut. The forest is my safe space to relax snd recharge. I love taking photos of the different plants and mushrooms. It’s the freshest air i have ever breathed of all the places I’ve been to. We have to save the trees. For these reasons I ask the Forest Service to withdraw the proposal and retain the 2001 Roadless Rule. Thank you for considering my comment.
    Full analysis of this comment →
  9. Opposes rescissionA3 weakSubstance 6/24Owed an answerSep 21, 2026FS-2025-0001-449471
    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 11 submissions in its group.

    I am writing in opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, docket FS-2025-0001, and to ask the Forest Service to select the no-action alternative. The agency calls this wildfire policy, but its own 2020 research found roadless and roaded forests burn at similar rates, and fires are far likelier to start near a road than in roadless forest. About 91 percent of Oregon roadless forest, some 1.66 million acres, sits in municipal watersheds serving roughly 800,000 people, and roads send sediment into the cold streams that marbled murrelets and coho depend on. More than 625,000 comments came in during 2025, a 2026 Pew poll found 76 percent of voters want the rule kept, and the agency faces an 11.2 billion dollar road-maintenance backlog while proposing to build more. Roadless national forests are among the best remaining habitat for species already in trouble, giving refuge to hundreds of vulnerable wildlife species (Dietz et al., 2021). On the Oregon coast that means salmon, elk, and seabirds like the marbled murrelet, all of which depend on unroaded, unfragmented forest and the cold, clean streams that roads degrade. Roadless forests store carbon far out of proportion to their size. On national forest lands, inventoried roadless areas hold about 22 percent of the mature-forest carbon and 27 percent of the old-growth carbon (Birdsey et al., 2025). Logging them releases carbon we cannot afford to lose and cannot quickly get back. Outdoor recreation is a major Oregon industry, supporting about 192,000 jobs, 16 billion dollars in spending, and 12.4 billion dollars of the state economy (Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, 2022). Roadless backcountry is the setting for much of the hunting, fishing, and hiking that sustains it, and new roads and logging trade a recurring economy for a one-time cut. For these reasons I ask the Forest Service to withdraw the proposal and retain the 2001 Roadless Rule. Thank you for considering my comment. Sincerely, Steven Trotter Waldport, Oregon
    Full analysis of this comment →
  10. Opposes rescissionA3 weakSubstance 6/24Owed an answerSep 21, 2026FS-2025-0001-452067
    PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW

    Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 11 submissions in its group.

    I am writing in opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, docket FS-2025-0001, and to ask the Forest Service to select the no-action alternative. The agency calls this wildfire policy, but its own 2020 research found roadless and roaded forests burn at similar rates, and fires are far likelier to start near a road than in roadless forest. About 91 percent of Oregon roadless forest, some 1.66 million acres, sits in municipal watersheds serving roughly 800,000 people, and roads send sediment into the cold streams that marbled murrelets and coho depend on. More than 625,000 comments came in during 2025, a 2026 Pew poll found 76 percent of voters want the rule kept, and the agency faces an 11.2 billion dollar road-maintenance backlog while proposing to build more. Roadless national forests are among the best remaining habitat for species already in trouble, giving refuge to hundreds of vulnerable wildlife species (Dietz et al., 2021). On the Oregon coast that means salmon, elk, and seabirds like the marbled murrelet, all of which depend on unroaded, unfragmented forest and the cold, clean streams that roads degrade. Roadless forests store carbon far out of proportion to their size. On national forest lands, inventoried roadless areas hold about 22 percent of the mature-forest carbon and 27 percent of the old-growth carbon (Birdsey et al., 2025). Logging them releases carbon we cannot afford to lose and cannot quickly get back. Outdoor recreation is a major Oregon industry, supporting about 192,000 jobs, 16 billion dollars in spending, and 12.4 billion dollars of the state economy (Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, 2022). Roadless backcountry is the setting for much of the hunting, fishing, and hiking that sustains it, and new roads and logging trade a recurring economy for a one-time cut. For these reasons I ask the Forest Service to withdraw the proposal and retain the 2001 Roadless Rule. Thank you for considering my comment. Sincerely, Elizabeth Fox Toledo, Oregon
    Full analysis of this comment →
  11. Opposes rescissionA3 weakSubstance 6/24Owed an answerSep 21, 2026FS-2025-0001-454241
    PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW

    Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 11 submissions in its group.

    I am writing in opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, docket FS-2025-0001, and to ask the Forest Service to select the no-action alternative. The agency calls this wildfire policy, but its own 2020 research found roadless and roaded forests burn at similar rates, and fires are far likelier to start near a road than in roadless forest. About 91 percent of Oregon roadless forest, some 1.66 million acres, sits in municipal watersheds serving roughly 800,000 people, and roads send sediment into the cold streams that marbled murrelets and coho depend on. More than 625,000 comments came in during 2025, a 2026 Pew poll found 76 percent of voters want the rule kept, and the agency faces an 11.2 billion dollar road-maintenance backlog while proposing to build more. Roadless national forests are among the best remaining habitat for species already in trouble, giving refuge to hundreds of vulnerable wildlife species (Dietz et al., 2021). On the Oregon coast that means sal
    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.

Keep learning. Keep speaking up.The Roadless Rule depends on public engagement. Share what you've learned.

© 2026 roadless.org - Defending America's Last Wild Forests

Privacy Policy|Questions or concerns? noroads@roadless.org|Follow us: @defendroadless