Read the comments.

Continued: 4. Fire is a part of the ecosystem. To the extent that the rationale is reducing fire, the rationale is wrong, as other commenters have pointed out and as the rationale points out, that more roads lead to more fire activity. But also the entire proposal is misplaced — because the most effective way to address fires of increasing intensity is to address climate change. That is the real national priority that needs to be addressed that the government is completely failing to address. Roads in forests are not a recognized wild-land fire management policy, as other commenters have pointed out. *** Put simply, the repeal of the Roadless Rule is a step backwards in public lands management. It effectively takes public lands out of the hands of the people they are set aside for — the American public — and hands them to special interests who are willing to pay for them. This is not the mandate that the USFS has been given by Congress. The mandate is the manage these lands for multiple uses. Creating new roads in forests prioritizes only one use, timber harvesting, over all others. *** My experience in this comment is drawn from recreating at the following USFS properties: Little Missouri National Grassland; Buffalo Gap National Grassland; BigHorn National Forest; Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest; Hiawatha National Forest; Ottawa National Forest; Huron-Manistee National Forest; Superior National Forest; Chippewa National Forest; Shoshone National Forest; Custer-Gallatin National Forest; Flathead National Forest; Bridger-Teton National Forest; Caribou-Targhee National Forest; Gifford Pinchot National Forest; Olympic National Forest; Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest; Colville National Forest; Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest; Arapaho National Forest; White River National Forest; Black Hills National Forest; Thunder Basin National Grassland; Unit-Wasatch-Cache National Forest; Sierra National Forest; Stanislaus National Forest; Lincoln National Forest; and Shawnee National Forest. My major takeaway from all these experiences is that these Forests already have more roads than most people could explore in a lifetime. There is quite simply no practical or logistical need, from a recreational perspective, for more under the rationales that the USFS has proposed in this rule change.

Dear Director, Ecosystem Management Coordination, 201 14th Street 1108, Washington, D.C. 20250-1124 I have lived and explored Wyoming’s most amazing forest service roadless areas for more than 45 years. I treasure the fact that these areas have been protected from development. They are important for protecting wildlife, air and water quality and maintaining the quiet and outstanding vistas of the mountains. With nearly 50% of all Forest Service lands open to development, Americans need to know that these special areas not roaded and not developed will be set aside for future generations. Roadless Areas In the Bighorn National Forest where I live, horse and back pack, camp, fish and paint must continue to be protected: Tensleep Canyon, Leigh Creek, Horse Creek Mesa, Little Bighorn River Canyon, Walker Prairie, Rock Creek of the Bighorns, Devils Canyon and more are spectacular landscapes. The Bridger Teton National Forest is an important wildlife, water and wild area: Roadless Areas that must be protected include: Commissary Ridge, Grayback Ridge, South Wyoming Range, Gros Ventre Mountains, including Spread Creek, Mosquito Lake, and the West Slope of the amazing Wind River Mountains. In the Medicine Bow NF Roadless Areas deserving continued protection include: French Creek, Rock Creek, Solomon Creek, Pennock Mountain, Sheep Mountain, Bear Mountain, Laramie Peak (where I camped and watched the solar eclipse!), Labonte Canyon, Buffalo Peak. The Shoshone National Forest which surrounds Yellowstone National Park and provides critical habitat for grizzly and black bears, elk, pronghorn, wolves, mountain lions, bobcats, lynx, and more has such important roadless areas justifying further protection include: The Beartooth Plateau, Franc’s Peak, Trout Creek, Windy Mountain, Wapiti Valley, South Fork,Telephone Draw, The Dunoir, Togwotee Pass, the Reef, Wood River. The Thunder Basin National Grassland also has important remnant roadless areas which need to maintain their protections: Duck Creek, Cow Creek and the Red Hills. I support the “No Action” alternative for the more than three million acres right here in Wyoming. The Roadless Rule needs to be in place not just for my beloved Wyoming areas but for all of America’s National Forests. Sincerely, Liz Howell 345 W. Whitney St Sheridan. Wyoming 82801 lizhowell345@gmail.com