Read the comments.

I urge you to suspend the current proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (i.e., “Roadless Rule”). The Roadless Rule was created with overwhelming public support and has protected forests for more than 25 years. Decisions about these areas should be based on science, not short-term corporate interests. These protected forests provide important habitat for wildlife, protect clean water, and give people opportunities to enjoy and connect with nature. These places should continue to be protected, not fragmented, logged, and mined for private or corporate benefit. The lack of care and consideration from our lawmakers and congresspeople towards our public natural spaces from has been incredibly disappointing to witness. I urge you to consider the damage this can cause to the biodiversity in the areas that could affected. Important biodiversity and habitats could be completely lost for what little comes of corporate “benefit”. Natural spaces should be kept as natural spaces and not simply utilized for our own personal resourceful gain. I have a deep connection to the forests surrounding the Caribou-Speckled Wilderness, some of the now-threatened Roadless Areas in Maine. These intact ecosystems are special places for people to visit, explore, and learn about nature, provide habitat for several threatened species, and are home to some of New England's last remaining old-growth forests. Mainers cannot afford to lose the habitat and water quality benefits provided by these Roadless Areas. I urge you to protect these places for future generations by suspending the current proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule. Sincerely, Wyatt Steffensen 7 Mildred St South Portland, ME 04106-2729 wyattsteff18@gmail.com

To the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture: I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposal to fully or partially rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (Docket FS-2025-0001). As a current resident of Maine and a former resident of Oregon, and an advocate for our nation’s public lands, inventoried roadless areas matter deeply to me. I frequently visit and recreate in the White Mountain National Forest where I hike, backpack, and fish. Additionally, many of my most cherished memories and significant life experiences took place in roadless public lands across Oregon, including but not limited to the Mt Hood, Willamette, Unpqua, Deschutes. Siuslaw, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests. It would be an unnecessary and short-sighted shame to deny current and future generations the opportunities and benefits these wildernesses in their present unspoiled state. Once they’re fragmented, these opportunities and benefits are compromised forever. Protecting these unfragmented landscapes is vital for several critical reasons: Clean Water and Watersheds: Roadless areas safeguard essential headwaters and drinking water sources for downstream communities. Wildlife Habitat: Roads fragment ecosystems and disrupt sensitive wildlife corridors, threatening biodiversity and endangered species. Climate and Resilience: Intact forests act as natural carbon sinks and are more resilient to severe disturbances than fragmented, heavily managed timber lands. Shifting management decisions to local forest plans without a national safeguard risks opening millions of acres of pristine backcountry to industrial logging and road construction. I urge the Forest Service to select Alternative 1 (No Action) and maintain full, nationwide protections for all designated inventoried roadless areas. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this critical rule. Sincerely, Chris Fuller Portland, ME 04101

Dear Secretary Rollins, I strongly oppose the proposal to eliminate or weaken the Roadless Rule. As a native of north Alabama who camped, fished, and hiked in Oakley Mountain in the Talladega National Forest, I experienced how vital these public lands are. The USDA's proposal would devastate these public lands, waste taxpayer resources, and undermine the water, habitat, and recreation that many millions of Americans rely on. These roadless forests represent some of the most intact ecosystems left in our country. They serve critical ecological functions: filtering clean drinking water, provide wildlife habitats, and are carbon sinks . People, like me and my family, hike, forage, bike, fish, camp, ski, climb, and find pleasure in these places. Roads will do damage: spreading invasive species, disrupting habitats, and disrupting the particular remote recreation that is unique to these Roadless areas. More roads in the backcountry also mean more fires. Research shows wildfires are more likely to ignite near roads, and nce roads and clearcuts fragment these landscapes, the damage is permanent. I do not support any of the proposed action alternatives that roll back the Roadless Rule. Please abandon this misguided effort, and I ask that the USDA instead strengthen its commitment to protecting America’s roadless forests. References: Aplet, G.H., Hartger, P. & Dietz, M.S. Three-decade record of contiguous-U.S. national forest wildfires indicates increased density of ignitions near roads. fire ecol 22, 8 (2026) https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-026-00450-2 Mildrexler, D.J., Berner, L.T., Law, B.E. & Both, M.S. Roadless rule rescission threatens highest integrity forest ecosystems in the United States. Biological Conservation 321, 111950 (2026) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111950 Sincerely, Jessica Hines Saco, ME 04072-3544 hinesjn0@gmail.com

I urge you to suspend the proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (i.e., “Roadless Rule”). The Roadless Rule was created with overwhelming public support and has protected forests for more than 25 years. Decisions about these areas should be based on science, not short-term corporate interests. Protected forests provide important habitat for wildlife, protect clean water, and give people opportunities to enjoy and connect with nature. These places should continue to be protected, not fragmented, logged, and mined for private or corporate benefit. I have a deep connection to the forests of some of the now-threatened Roadless Areas in Maine. These intact ecosystems are special places for people to visit, explore, and learn about nature, provide habitat for several threatened species, and are home to some of New England's last remaining old-growth forests. Mainers cannot afford to lose the habitat and water quality benefits provided by these Roadless Areas. I urge you to protect these places for future generations by suspending the current proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule. Sincerely, Kim Michel 1068 Main St Waldoboro, ME 04572-6037 kimberlee.michel@gmail.com

I urge you to suspend the current proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (i.e., “Roadless Rule”). The Roadless Rule was created with overwhelming public support and has protected forests for more than 25 years. Decisions about these areas should be based on science, not short-term corporate interests. These protected forests provide important habitat for wildlife, protect clean water, and give people opportunities to enjoy and connect with nature. These places should continue to be protected, not fragmented, logged, and mined for private or corporate benefit. I have a deep connection to the forests and mountains, some of them now-threatened Roadless Areas in Maine. I believe it is my duty to protect and preserve the pristine natural resources of this state. These intact ecosystems are special places for people to visit, explore, and learn about nature, provide habitat for several threatened species, and are home to some of New England's last remaining old-growth forests. Mainers cannot afford to lose the habitat and water quality benefits provided by these Roadless Areas. I urge you to protect these places for future generations by suspending the current proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule. Sincerely, Ailish Fahey PO Box 1223 Lewiston, ME 04243-1223 ishfahey3.13@gmail.com

Please do not repeal the Roadless Area Conservation Rule! For over 25 years, the Roadless Rule has protected our country’s precious forests and wildlife. Repealing this rule will be devastating to our irreplaceable natural resources. They should not be put at risk to benefit selfish corporate interests. It’s not worth it at all! I’m a young Mainer and love living in this state for its beautiful environment and biodiversity. Mainers want it to stay this way—we cannot afford to lose it! I urge you to protect these places for future generations and stop the current proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule. Sincerely, Kaelin Ferland 168 Danforth St Apt 2 Portland, ME 04102-5317 kaelinf08@gmail.com

I urge you to suspend the current proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (i.e., “Roadless Rule”). The Roadless Rule was created with overwhelming public support and has protected forests for more than 25 years. Decisions about these areas should be based on science, not short-term corporate interests. These protected forests provide important habitat for wildlife, protect clean water, and give people opportunities to enjoy and connect with nature. These places should continue to be protected, not fragmented, logged, and mined for private or corporate benefit. They belong to all of us, and to the many species who live there; to treat them as a way to make some short-term cash for a select few (already rich) individuals is not only morally abhorrent, it’s stupid. I have a deep connection to the forests surrounding the Caribou-Speckled Wilderness, some of the now-threatened Roadless Areas in Maine. These intact ecosystems are special places for people to visit, explore, and learn about nature, provide habitat for several threatened species, and are home to some of New England's last remaining old-growth forests. Mainers cannot afford to lose the habitat and water quality benefits provided by these Roadless Areas. I urge you to protect these places for future generations by suspending the current proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule. I have heard it suggested that more roads will prevent wildfire. We know it is not true. The people making this claim know this is not true. They are aware that a wildfire is four times more likely to start near a road than in a roadless area, and that roadless areas are not impossible to manage soundly. We see this attempt to rescind the Roadless Rule for what it it is: another greedy attempt the American people and the American continent for every last dime they can get and leave the rest of us to choke on the fallout. Do not do this. Sincerely, Joshua Jackson 17 Hornet St Brunswick, ME 04011-2716 writejoshjackson@gmail.com

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. Is congress out of touch or just so impregnated. with israeli propaganda to destroy our country. No more excuses the republican party is a cult . R u all pedophiles? 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. Sincerely, Sincerely, Corliss Mitchell Anson, ME 04911

Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, I urge the U.S. Forest Service to keep intact the existing Roadless Area Conservation Rule (“Roadless Rule”), which protects nearly 45 million acres of our nation's forests and grasslands. Prior to the rule's implementation in 2001, industrial logging and accompanying roadbuilding disrupted and destroyed 3.2 million acres of fragile habitat annually while also degrading clean water supplies and limiting outdoor recreation opportunities. For a quarter century, the Roadless Rule has protected ecologically sensitive landscapes, wildlife populations and habitat, and communities dependent upon their services. The rule protects countless wild animals, including imperiled species who rely on intact habitats for survival. Additionally, these lands provide clean water and support numerous recreational activities that sustain local jobs and economies. The rule allows for flexibility in resource management, with exceptions for vegetation management and road construction projects in the interest of public health and safety. The American public overwhelmingly supports the Roadless Rule; recent bipartisan polling shows that 77% of voters support conserving roadless lands. Indeed, the rule was created with input from over 1.6 million comments and, in September, over half a million Americans responded to the U.S. Forest Service's notice of intent to repeal the Roadless Rule with comments voicing strong opposition. We have made our opinion clear time and time again–our public lands should remain public, not be degraded for the interests of private industry. I strongly urge the U.S. Forest Service not to repeal the Roadless Rule, as keeping the rule intact will protect our shared forestlands for generations to come. PEGGY YORK 128 Summit Park Ave, Portland, ME, USA, ME 04103 Sincerely, Ms. PEGGY YORK