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--- Subject: I oppose new road construction in our National Forests I am writing as a 68-year-old resident of Louisville, Kentucky who hikes and enjoys our public forests, and I strongly oppose any proposal to build new roads or expand road networks in our National Forests. Roads do lasting damage that cannot be undone: They fragment wildlife habitat, increase erosion and sediment in our streams, and spread invasive species. They are extremely expensive to maintain. The Forest Service already has a multi-billion dollar backlog on existing roads. We should not add more. Our forests are most valuable when they are intact, quiet, and wild. Roadless areas protect clean drinking water, old growth, and the solitude that so many of us seek for health and spiritual renewal. Once a road is built, the character of the forest changes forever - with more noise, litter, illegal dumping, and industrial use. I urge you to keep our roadless areas roadless, prioritize decommissioning failing and unneeded roads, and protect intact forests for future generations, not for short-term timber or development access. Please record my comment as OPPOSED to new forest roads. Thank you for considering public input. US Citizen Louisville, KY 40202

Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, se01nsnn se01nsnn , I am invested in the conservation of our national parks and the public lands that sustain them, I urge you to choose the No Action alternative and keep the Roadless Rule in place. The National Parks serve as protection for clean water, essential wildlife habitat, connected and healthy ecosystems. Additionally, they support outdoor recreation which is proven to have positive impacts on both physical and mental health of humans (the NIH cites immune support, lower risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and stress among the many health benefits). Rescinding the rule would expose these treasured landscapes to new roads and development, fragmenting habitat, degrading waterways, and putting our parks at risk. Perhaps most importantly, many public lands are already available for timber and energy development. Roadless protections apply to only about 30% of National Forest lands, making these remaining intact areas vital for the health and success of future generations. Please keep the Roadless Rule in place to preserve and protect our most precious resources: our forests, wildlife, clean water, and the national parks. Lauren Roberts 708 Dayton Ave Apt 2 Dayton, KY 41074-1729 Sincerely, Lauren Roberts

Stop! Do not allow roads or other invassive human activity into conservation areas as proposed by the legilatve changes. We and nature need undisturbed large sections of land to retain biodiversity and have a tangible link to the past. Without this reserved space we will loose knowledge that can never be replaced, with any certainty. Please strengthen and enforce restrictions for areas under conservation now and add more areas to this effort. Thank you, Anna Marie Pavlik Rosen 417 Wapping St Frankfort, KY 40601

I oppose the proposed repeal of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. I urge you to maintain the existing Rule as is. The Roadless Rule protects the watersheds of many of our National Wild and Scenic Rivers in California, as well as many rivers and streams deemed eligible for national protection by the Forest Service. The roadless areas through which these wild rivers flow are an important refuge for threatened and endangered fish, wildlife, and plants. They provide outstanding opportunities for outdoor recreation in a primitive setting, such as hiking, backpacking, whitewater boating, mountain biking, and even motorized recreation on existing legal trails. Roadless areas provide clean water for wildlife and recreation and the rivers that flow from the roadless areas into reservoirs are an important source of high-quality water for downstream communities and farms. Many rivers to consider include but are not limited to the North Fork American, Tuolumne, South Fork Kings, Middle Fork Feather, and North Fork Kern. The Roadless Rule does not limit public access. Most roadless areas are legally available for public recreation under the Rule – they are simply closed to new road building, commercial logging, and other development that requires new roads. It is not true that roadless areas increase wildfire threats. Roads – not roadless areas – are a primary source of wildfire starts. I urge that Roadless Rule be retained to protect our wild places for recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, and as important sources of clean water for our communities and farms. The roadless areas are the last places where the earth still retains her beauty as she was given to us. These are the most sared spots and are the true cathedrals where one can worship the creator in purity. Only those who live in such spaces or come to visit them with respect truly see the wonder of what we have been given. They are the true people of the earth. Please leave the spaces for them and the four footed ones who also live there. It all is far more valuable than money or precious metals. Sincerely, Sincerely, Roberta Hudlow Nerinx, KY 40049