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 comments17 submissions

Position

Opposes rescission 100.0%

Answerability

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

Substance /24

Median 2middle half 2–2 · 1 scored

Topics raised

17 submissions in this letter's group · showing 1–17Clear all filters

Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-592821
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
To U.S. Forest Service: We stand with the National Audubon Society to urge the U.S. Forest Service not to repeal the Roadless Rule. The Forest Service is responsible for managing our nation's forests to sustain their health, ecological diversity, and productivity, which includes the protection of old-growth and mature forests. Special places like the Tongass National Forest should be protected because of their ecological value for birds, their extensive carbon stores, and their subsistence, heritage, and recreational value for current and future generations. Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. These lands contribute to local and rural economies through recreation, birdwatching, hunting, and fishing, while also ensuring that downstream communities have safe drinking water. Ecological forest management to mitigate fire risk, ensure community safety, and improve habitat is important. The Forest Service should focus on how roadless areas are managed and maintained to improve habitats and reduce fire risk, rather than narrowly focusing on road-building and large-scale timber harvests in remote and ecologically sensitive areas. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy bird populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule. Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-592911
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. Getting rid of the roadless rule would be a huge mistake. Ecological forest management to mitigate fire risk, ensure community safety, and improve habitat is important. The Forest Service should focus on how roadless areas are managed and maintained to improve habitats and reduce fire risk, rather than narrowly focusing on road-building and large-scale timber harvests in remote and ecologically sensitive areas.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-592937
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
We stand with the National Audubon Society to urge the U.S. Forest Service not to repeal the Roadless Rule. The Forest Service is responsible for managing our nation's forests to sustain their health, ecological diversity, and productivity, which includes the protection of old-growth and mature forests. Special places like the Tongass National Forest should be protected because of their ecological value for birds, their extensive carbon stores, and their subsistence, heritage, and recreational value for current and future generations. Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. These lands contribute to local and rural economies through recreation, birdwatching, hunting, and fishing, while also ensuring that downstream communities have safe drinking water. Ecological forest management to mitigate fire risk, ensure community safety, and improve habitat is important. The Forest Service should focus on how roadless areas are managed and maintained to improve habitats and reduce fire risk, rather than narrowly focusing on road-building and large-scale timber harvests in remote and ecologically sensitive areas. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy bird populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-592944
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
I stand with the National Audubon Society to urge the U.S. Forest Service not to repeal the Roadless Rule. The Forest Service is responsible for managing our nation's forests to sustain their health, ecological diversity, and productivity, which includes the protection of old-growth and mature forests. Special places like the Tongass National Forest should be protected because of their ecological value for birds, their extensive carbon stores, and their subsistence, heritage, and recreational value for current and future generations. Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. These lands contribute to local and rural economies through recreation, birdwatching, hunting, and fishing, while also ensuring that downstream communities have safe drinking water. Ecological forest management to mitigate fire risk, ensure community safety, and improve habitat is important. The Forest Service should focus on how roadless areas are managed and maintained to improve habitats and reduce fire risk, rather than narrowly focusing on road-building and large-scale timber harvests in remote and ecologically sensitive areas. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy bird populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-593051
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
Do not touch the Roadless Rule. Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. These lands contribute to local and rural economies through recreation, birdwatching, hunting, and fishing, while also ensuring that downstream communities have safe drinking water. Ecological forest management to mitigate fire risk, ensure community safety, and improve habitat is important. The Forest Service should focus on how roadless areas are managed and maintained to improve habitats and reduce fire risk, rather than narrowly focusing on road-building and large-scale timber harvests in remote and ecologically sensitive areas. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy bird populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-593272
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
To U.S. Forest Service: We stand with the National Audubon Society to urge the U.S. Forest Service not to repeal the Roadless Rule. The Forest Service is responsible for managing our nation's forests to sustain their health, ecological diversity, and productivity, which includes the protection of old-growth and mature forests. Special places like the Tongass National Forest should be protected because of their ecological value for birds, their extensive carbon stores, and their subsistence, heritage, and recreational value for current and future generations. Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. These lands contribute to local and rural economies through recreation, birdwatching, hunting, and fishing, while also ensuring that downstream communities have safe drinking water. Ecological forest management to mitigate fire risk, ensure community safety, and improve habitat is important. The Forest Service should focus on how roadless areas are managed and maintained to improve habitats and reduce fire risk, rather than narrowly focusing on road-building and large-scale timber harvests in remote and ecologically sensitive areas. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy bird populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-593448
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
I urge the U.S. Forest Service not to repeal the Roadless Rule. The Forest Service is responsible for managing our nation's forests to sustain their health, ecological diversity, and productivity, which includes the protection of old-growth and mature forests. Forest should be protected because of their biodiversity, the ecological services they provide including their extensive carbon stores, and their subsistence, heritage, and recreational value for current and future generations. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy plants, fungi, animals (including people), and environment. These public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-593849
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy bird populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule. It's important to me what comes after me. I need to ensure that public lands stay intact for the future generations.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-594059
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy bird populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule. Please allow our beautiful lands to be free to those non human creatures that live within it as well.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-594094
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
Docket Number: FS-2025-0001-223869 LETTER TO FOREST SERVICE To U.S. Forest Service: We stand with the National Audubon Society to urge the U.S. Forest Service not to repeal the Roadless Rule. The Forest Service is responsible for managing our nation's forests to sustain their health, ecological diversity, and productivity, which includes the protection of old-growth and mature forests. Special places like the Tongass National Forest should be protected because of their ecological value for birds, their extensive carbon stores, and their subsistence, heritage, and recreational value for current and future generations. Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. These lands contribute to local and rural economies through recreation, birdwatching, hunting, and fishing, while also ensuring that downstream communities have safe drinking water. I am concerned about how repealing the roadless rule would impact the following benefits of the roadless rule: Drinking water: 60 million Americans rely on national forests for drinking water; intact forests filter water naturally Wildlife habitat: habitat for salmon, trout, elk, and other species that depend on undammed, unlogged streams and connected landscapes Wildfire risk: wildfires are 4x more likely to start near roads; roughly 90% of wildfires start within half a mile of a road — directly rebuts the administration's stated rationale Old growth & carbon storage: contains vast swaths of the country's remaining old-growth forest and significant carbon storage Fiscal responsibility: the existing road network already carries an $8.5+ billion maintenance backlog; building more roads adds to it Ecological forest management to mitigate fire risk, ensure community safety, and improve habitat is important. The Forest Service should focus on how roadless areas are managed and maintained to improve habitats and reduce fire risk, rather than narrowly focusing on road-building and large-scale timber harvests in remote and ecologically sensitive areas. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy bird populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-595550
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy bird populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule. These lands are for all of us, humans, animals, and plants. We should be leaving this world better than we found it.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-595602
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to countless wildlife species and more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for many wildlife populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-597025
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy bird populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule. PLEASE, I beg you to keep the roadless rule. Our habitats in the U.S. are disappearing at an alarming rate!
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-597504
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy bird populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule. The people do not approve of this action!
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-597705
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy bird populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule. Don't screw over our planet and our future for the sake of some billionaires' offshore bank accounts.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 6, 2026FS-2025-0001-597987
PLACESTANDDOCGAPEVIDASKALTLAW
Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. See the letter, its submissions and topics.One of 17 submissions in its group.
Roadless areas are some of the most intact wildlife habitats left in this country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy bird populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule.
Full analysis of this comment →
Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 2/24Oct 4, 2026FS-2025-0001-542927
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 17 submissions in its group.
As someone who grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has lived near forests in the United States for most of my life, please do not to repeal the Roadless Rule. The Forest Service is responsible for managing our nation's forests to sustain their health, ecological diversity, and productivity, which includes the protection of old-growth and mature forests. Special places like the Tongass National Forest should be protected because of their ecological value for birds, their extensive carbon stores, and their subsistence, heritage, and recreational value for current and future generations. Roadless areas represent some of the most intact public lands and wildlife habitats left in the country, home to more than 77 bird species of conservation concern. These lands contribute to local and rural economies through recreation, while also ensuring that downstream communities have safe drinking water. Ecological forest management to mitigate fire risk, ensure community safety, and improve habitat is important. The Forest Service should focus on how roadless areas are managed and maintained to improve habitats and reduce fire risk, rather than narrowly focusing on road-building and large-scale timber harvests in remote and ecologically sensitive areas. The intact forests of the National Forest System are essential for healthy bird populations, and these public lands are part of what makes our country so special. The Forest Service should not repeal the long-standing protections for forests in the Roadless Rule.
Full analysis of this comment →

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

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

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

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

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

Roadless.org — analysis of the public comment docket.
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