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 comments55 submissions

Position

Opposes rescission 100.0%

Answerability

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

Substance /24

Median 4middle half 4–4 · 1 scored

Topics raised

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

Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 5, 2026FS-2025-0001-553847
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. Sincerely, Jen Manders-Raney 330 Olympic Heights Rd Dubuque, IA 52001-1130 jlmanders@aol.com Sincerely, Jen Manders-Raney
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 5, 2026FS-2025-0001-554321
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. I'm a full time outdoor guide and educator, and rescinding the Roadless Rule will directly, and negatively affect the quality of river guiding services that I will be able to offer, due to a degradation of water quality and aesthetic elements associated with my services. I am part of the economy, and these are my lands, along with every other American! Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. Sincerely, Kirk Eddlemon 1324 Wenlock Road Knoxville, TN 37922-1405 kirk.eddlemon@gmail.com Sincerely, Kirk Eddlemon
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 5, 2026FS-2025-0001-554649
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. Future generations that will seek outdoor spaces as ways to escape the constant presence of technology will hail you as a wise hero. Rivers run through everyone's souls as humans are 60% water and depend upon it for life itself. Do the right thing while we still can. Sincerely, Christian Vesper 28656 Chappelow Hill Rd. West Harrison, IN 47060 christian_vesper@hotmail.com Sincerely, Christian Vesper
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 5, 2026FS-2025-0001-554669
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear These protected spaces are vital to the community. They create opportunities for endangered ecosystems to thrive. These areas drive visitors to the area, thereby stimulating the economy. I urge you to listen to your constituents and not rescind these protective measures. In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. Sincerely, Katey Neuffer 4638 Mccahill Rd Chattanooga, TN 37415 ikneuffer@gmail.com Sincerely, Katey Neuffer
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 5, 2026FS-2025-0001-554908
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear Please do not rescind the roadless rule. Preserving our natural heritage is a duty assigned to us by God, going back to Adam. Furthermore, the manner in which the rule is to be rescinded will benefit only a small number of moneyed interests, not the hard working Men and Women of America. In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. Sincerely, Will Johnson 3759 N Wilton Ave Chicago, IL 60613 jillwonson@gmail.com Sincerely, Will Johnson
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 5, 2026FS-2025-0001-555073
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Hendersonville, NC where I live. Please keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. We the public who own these areas will fight to protect them. Sincerely, Earl Metzger 177 Hall Road Horse Shie, NC 28742 harrisonoc1@gmail.com Sincerely, Earl Metzger
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 5, 2026FS-2025-0001-555146
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. I enjoy our wild, natural resources and find them to be a massive benefit of living in this great country. Please protect these spaces. Matt Bentley Sincerely, Matthew Bentley 69 Elizabeth St. Asheville, NC 28801 matibbybentley@gmail.com Sincerely, Matthew Bentley
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-533203
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and my state of Montana and our Idaho and Wyoming neighbors. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. Sincerely, Doug Lovely , 59106 doug.lovely@me.com Sincerely, Doug Lovely
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-536443
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. It's well known and proven that more edge areas (roads) equal more wildfires and degradation of ecosystems and diversity, including microbiology. These negative impacts harm the health of humans, plants and animals, which would be a totally reckless move. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. Sincerely, Letitia Noel 55 W Goethe St Chicago, IL 60610 tishnoel@aol.com Sincerely, Ms. Letitia Noel
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-536578
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. I regularly recreate in the Grouse Ridge Roadless Area and I do not want to see any changes to the status of that area. Thank you. Sincerely, James McLain 9077 Cherry Ave Orangevale, CA 95662 jmclain98@yahoo.com Sincerely, James McLain
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-536588
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear Below is the detailed letter from an organization I support. Rep. Burchett, our is near some of In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. Sincerely, Scott Hussey 5311 Dalton Lane Walland, TN 37886 sdhussey@gmail.com Sincerely, Scott Hussey
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-537815
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Today we had an excellent example of the damage our selfish acts can trigger. The Steelhead are returning in the lowest numbers since the first dam went in on the Columbia. USDA doesn't have the resources to take care of the roads they have, but want to open access to millions of more acres. Let's try to make some intelligent decisions and not rob our grandchildren of their birthright. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. Sincerely, James Rutherford 3203 N Girard Rd Spokane Valley, WA 99212 jmrthrfrd48@myyahoo.com Sincerely, Mr. James Rutherford
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-538539
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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 55 submissions in its group.
In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation’s most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. I am a professional engineer licensed in multiple states. I have worked on river restoration projects, forest health, wildfire and have recently been working on post-fire flood hazard. I have toured watersheds impacted by flood after fires. Rescinding this rule will make my job protecting people and water resources harder, much much harder. We do not need any more roads in the forests. They alter the drainage connectivity and cause erosion. Having roads built in forests will not help fight wildfire. Please do not rescind this rule.
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-538967
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. Progress should not come at the expense of our clean and water. The roadless rule protects both. Please do not remove Thank you Sincerely, Dena Liston 405 Woodcock Ave Shepherdstown, WV 25443 denalistondesigns@gmail.com Sincerely, Dena Liston
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-539603
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear I enjoy the outdoor areas and love spending time in our forests and federal lands with unending beauty and peaceful places. Additionally, I'm very concerned about the wildlife in our forests whose habitat will be further destroyed if the Roadless Rule is rolled back. In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. Sincerely, Cynthia Hopcraft 985 Greenwood Dr Apt 4 Hendersonville, NC 28791 cyann@duck.com Sincerely, Ms. Cynthia Hopcraft
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-541435
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. It is a slippery slope. First these areas and then others. Do not let it start. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is. Our children and grandchildren are counting on you. Sincerely, Darryn Sikora , OR 97219 darryn.sikora@gmail.com Sincerely, Darryn Sikora
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-542152
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. The Roadless Rule has been essential to keeping the areas where I recreate clean. We only have one planet, and we're destroying it enough as it is. Please defend our country. Do not submit to the pressures of billionaires and corporations. Stand up for future generations. Protect our natural resources. Sincerely, Jamie O'Donnell 4330 Comet Trl Hixson, TN 37343 jamie.odonnell730@gmail.com Sincerely, Jamie O'Donnell
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-546646
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. That's compelling. Don't be on the wrong side of history when the biomarkers point to the steady decline of earth's systems. We are In a mass extinction crisis. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. Sincerely, Andrew Koosed 1214 Ramblewood Trail South Euclid, OH 44121 ajkoosed@gmail.com Sincerely, Andrew Koosed
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-546794
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear As a tax paying citizen and public land owner I plead, I urge, that we do not rescind the roadless rule. We chose to protect these undisturbed lands and the clean waters they provide for future generations and now they are under threat for the profit of a few. Rolling back the roadless rule will jeopardize the safety and future of drinking water for more than 25 million Americans. In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. Sincerely, Jonathan Der 24325 Winder Pl Golden, CO 80403 jonoder@yahoo.com Sincerely, Jonathan Der
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Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Oct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-549890
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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 55 submissions in its group.
Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, Dear I personally have seen the benefit of keeping wild places roadless. Recently rafting with friends down the lower Salmon River. The abundance of wildlife that thrives in these areas is amazing. Leaving these places wild is important for its inhabitance now and in the future. In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that it is proposing a complete rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule, I ask you to resist making this change. This is a move that, if finalized, would be the largest loss of protections for rivers on federal lands in U.S. history. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of national forest lands that form the headwaters of some of the nation's most critical drinking water sources. Roadless areas safeguard more than 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, protecting fish and wildlife habitat and helping ensure clean drinking water for more than 25 million Americans, including residents of Denver, Atlanta, and Bozeman. Please reconsider this action, and keep the Roadless Rule as it is: a significant protection for rivers, clean water, and wildlife across the country. Sincerely, Chris Petersen 7992 SE APRIL CIR Portland, OR 97267 audiofreq.llc@gmail.com Sincerely, Chris Petersen
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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: https://www.regulations.gov/bulkdownload.

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