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I am opposed to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule in North Carolina. As a resident of Western North Carolina, I am intimately familiar with the importance of the truly valuable areas contained in the Pisgah National Forest and the Nantahala National Forest. One important aspect of these areas is watershed protection and climate resilience. Our drinking water is naturally filtered by the intact, unfragmented forest floors, which is also our best natural defense against catastrophic soil erosion and severe downstream flooding, which increasingly threaten our mountain communities as we have seen not only with Hurricane Helene, but many other natural events as well. 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. The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests contain unique, ancient ecosystems and unique endangered wildlife species found only in these forests 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. Please consider what is best for not only the current residents of Western North Carolina, but for the many generations to come. Sincerely, Kim Chao Hendersonville, NC 28791