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I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. Our national forests are public lands, our shared birthright, and they should be protected for the benefit of everyone, not opened to greater roadbuilding and commercial logging. In West Virginia, the Roadless Rule safeguards treasured places like Roaring Plains, Seneca Creek, Cheat Mountain, Canaan Mountain and Tea Creek, while protecting important buffers around the Dolly Sods, Otter Creek and Cranberry Wilderness Areas. Having visited the Monongahela National Forest many times over the past 25 years, I have never felt that the Forest required greater or more extensive road access. The existing Forest Roads are more than sufficient to provide reasonable access for recreation and occasionally sanctioned commercial activity, and thus to expand road building on the Mon into previously undisturbed areas and sensitive plant and animal habitat would go against the entire rationale behind our National Forests and the Mon in particular. These wild, unfragmented landscapes provide clean water, wildlife habitat and irreplaceable opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once they are lost, we cannot easily restore them. Please preserve the Roadless Rule and protect our shared public lands for future generations. Sincerely, Bradley Stephens 248 Franklin St Morgantown, WV 26501-6906 brad.w.stephens@gmail.com

I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. As a West Virginian and a citizen of the United States of America, I demand that this craziness of destroying the protected lands end. This Roadless Rule does not serve anyone who cares about the land of America. The creators of this 2001 Roadless Rule are self serving and do not care about this country and the beauty of our protected lands, protected for a reason because there are too many who would deface her and fall in line with the coal companies and other corporations that have defiled our land and waters rather than fulfill their promises to protect and restore the land and waters after they got what they wanted. There is no need for this total lack of compassion and empathy in our country. Our "representatives" have broken their word to represent the people. Enough is enough. Our national forests are public lands, our shared birthright, and they should be protected for the benefit of everyone, not opened to greater roadbuilding and commercial logging. In West Virginia, the Roadless Rule safeguards treasured places like Roaring Plains, Seneca Creek, Cheat Mountain, Canaan Mountain and Tea Creek, while protecting important buffers around Dolly Sods, Otter Creek and Cranberry. These wild, unfragmented landscapes provide clean water, wildlife habitat and irreplaceable opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once they are lost, we cannot easily restore them. Please preserve the Roadless Rule and protect our shared public lands for future generations. Sincerely, Mary Jane Oref 515 Greenbrier Ave White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986-2009 orefkane@hotmail.com

Look, am I a hiker? No. But, guess what? For every lazy old slouch like me there are a thousand young and old people who enjoy these roadless areas! They like them for lots of reasons, but the main one is—you guessed it—because they are ROADLESS. A road less traveled is for Frost and for thousands of wanderers who want to see birds, not Buicks—or even bikes! They want to see and hear the beauty of the natural world. So do I, for that matter, even if I have my own places to visit that are not as hard on my old bones as some of these places. I want there to be undisturbed land for my grandkids to wander and explore without the noise, the pollution, and the ugliness of the vehicles that will surely mar these areas should this rule be dismissed. So, yes, I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. Our national forests are public lands, our shared birthright, and they should be protected for the benefit of everyone, not opened to greater roadbuilding and commercial logging. In West Virginia, the Roadless Rule safeguards treasured places like Roaring Plains, Seneca Creek, Cheat Mountain, Canaan Mountain and Tea Creek, while protecting important buffers around Dolly Sods, Otter Creek and Cranberry. These wild, unfragmented landscapes provide clean water, wildlife habitat and irreplaceable opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once they are lost, we cannot easily restore them. Please preserve the Roadless Rule and protect our shared public lands for future generations. It would be just grand of you to leave our wild, wonderful WV wild and wonderful, and wooded and whimsical. Enough already. Stay away from these beautiful areas. Sincerely, Jodi Jones Sincerely, Jodi Jones PO Box 764 Davis, WV 26260-0764 jodijones1362@gmail.com

I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. Our national forests are public lands, our shared birthright, and they should be protected for the benefit of everyone, not opened to greater roadbuilding and commercial logging. In West Virginia, the Roadless Rule safeguards treasured places like Roaring Plains, Seneca Creek, Cheat Mountain, Canaan Mountain and Tea Creek, while protecting important buffers around Dolly Sods, Otter Creek and Cranberry. These wild, unfragmented landscapes provide clean water, wildlife habitat and irreplaceable opportunities for outdoor recreation. They are set aside as having potential for wilderness designation. Allowing the construction of roads and other human infrastructure would destroy that potential. Even while not designated, they provide an important alternative in the full spectrum of National Forest land use and recreational opportunities. Roadless areas can be preserved without significant degradation as potential wilderness while still providing opportunities not available in designated wilderness, such as recreational bicycle use and hunting carts and other mechanical equipment not permitted in wilderness. The role of roadless areas as an in-between alternative to full wilderness and motorized lands open to timbering and other development is important and must not be compromised. Once roadless areas are degraded, we cannot easily restore them. Please preserve the Roadless Rule and protect our shared public lands for future generations. Sincerely, David Johnston PO Box 42 Dryfork, WV 26263-0042 dsjohnstonWV@gmail.com

Please preserve the Roadless Rule and protect our shared public lands for future generations. I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. Our national forests are public lands, our shared birthright, and they should be protected for the benefit of everyone, not opened to greater roadbuilding and commercial logging. In West Virginia, the Roadless Rule safeguards treasured places like Roaring Plains, Seneca Creek, Cheat Mountain, Canaan Mountain and Tea Creek, while protecting important buffers around Dolly Sods, Otter Creek and Cranberry. These wild, unfragmented landscapes provide clean water, wildlife habitat and irreplaceable opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once they are lost, we cannot easily restore them. Please preserve the Roadless Rule and protect our shared public lands for future generations. Sincerely, Margaret Reishman 30 Bradford St Apt 7 Charleston, WV 25301-3056 bella_gardens@outlook.com

Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, There are decades of science supporting the Roadless Rule. You know this because the USFS was one of the agencies that provided the research supporting the science. You also know that a change in political party does not change science or reality, and that intact ecosystems and protected wilderness areas are essential for supporting nature and the natural systems that also support human life. Public lands were set aside by those who recognized, long ago, that human greed would challenge the science that is supposed to protect us from ourselves. Do not allow this rule to be weakened or eliminated. You know the irreversible damage that would result — in a time when nature is already challenged. As a stakeholder in our public lands and a conservationist, I expect you to follow your mission and the science of 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. Charlotte Fremaux 622 Shannondale Rd, WV 25425 Sincerely, Ms. Charlotte Fremaux

I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule, as a long-time resident of beautiful West Virginia and someone who wants to see God's splendor in Monongahela National Forest unspoiled. Our national forests are public lands, our shared birthright, and they should be protected for the benefit of everyone, not opened to greater roadbuilding and commercial logging. In West Virginia, the Roadless Rule safeguards treasured places like Roaring Plains, Seneca Creek, Cheat Mountain, Canaan Mountain and Tea Creek, while protecting important buffers around Dolly Sods, Otter Creek and Cranberry. These wild, unfragmented landscapes provide clean water, wildlife habitat and irreplaceable opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once they are lost, we cannot easily restore them. Please preserve the Roadless Rule and protect our shared public lands for future generations. Sincerely, Jeremy Wenisch 1015 Lilly St Princeton, WV 24740-2209 jeremypwenisch@gmail.com

I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. I have backpacked in Roaring Plains over 50 times in 20 years. It is the most unspoiled and least crowded area in West Virginia. It is one of the finest areas in all of our country. People fought so hard to have this area designated wilderness. It would be criminal to repeal the Roadless rule. When I hear "Wild and Wonderful," I think Roaring Plains. Sincerely, Wayne Carey 3618 Chapel Hill Rd Triadelphia, WV 26059-1064 wvredline@gmail.com

I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. It's time for West Virginia to plan for an economic future that revolves around one of their greatest assets; their large uninterrupted wild spaces. What is not needed is increased logging and fragmentation of ecosystems required by many, many species for their survival. When they're gone they're gone. Try recreation and tourism a little more, and extraction a lot less. Monongahela National Forest needs to be left alone, to heal after being clearcut and repeatedly logged. Sincerely, Michael Blackburn Sincerely, Michael Blackburn 407 Thunderstruck Rd Dryfork, WV 26263 blackburn.mb@gmail.com

Please do not repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule. It would be very short-sighted. As our national situation gets grimmer and life gets more complex, research shows that people need untouched wooded areas even more. Our national forests are public lands, our shared birthright. We are fast losing our world as God made it, and our remaining forests should be protected for the benefit of everyone, not opened to greater roadbuilding and commercial logging. These wild, unfragmented landscapes provide clean water, wildlife habitat and irreplaceable opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once they are lost, we cannot easily restore them. Please preserve the Roadless Rule and protect our shared public lands for future generations. Sincerely, Kate Long 18 Arlington Ct Charleston, WV 25301-1802 katewv7777@gmail.com

I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. Our national forests are public lands, our shared birthright, and they should be protected for the benefit of everyone, not opened to greater road building and commercial logging. Outside of Davis, West Virginia the the Canaan Mountain back country area is a place I know well. It's as close to a National Wilderness area as you will find, and much more accessible. It is a treasure. Hikers, bikers and hunters all explore it close up on a magnificent trail system. It has all the roads it needs. Please protect it. Please preserve the Roadless Rule and protect our shared public lands for future generations. Sincerely, Susan Moore 455 Pineview Dr Thomas, WV 26292-9712 susanmooreindavis@gmail.com

I oppose the repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. I've lived in WV my whole life and know the areas well that this proposed rule change could affect. I do not want to see roads cut into these special places or the extractive activities that would likely accompany them. There is plenty of unprotected land in WV that is already open for logging and other industries. We need to do more to protect the natural landscape and heritage of this state, not less. The economy of WV is changing and diversifying - maintaining the integrity of our natural environment is vital to this shift. Reverting to old models of resource extraction is a bad idea and will negatively impact the future of our state. Please do not open these areas to road construction. Sincerely, Andrew Must 10757 Lobelia Rd Hillsboro, WV 24946-8101 andrewmust@gmail.com

I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. Our national forests are public lands, our shared birthright, and they should be protected for the benefit of everyone, not opened to greater roadbuilding and commercial logging. In West Virginia, the Roadless Rule safeguards treasured places like Roaring Plains, Seneca Creek, Cheat Mountain, Canaan Mountain and Tea Creek, while protecting important buffers around Dolly Sods, Otter Creek and Cranberry. These wild, unfragmented landscapes provide clean water, wildlife habitat and irreplaceable opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once they are lost, we cannot easily restore them. Please preserve the Roadless Rule and protect our shared public lands for future generations. W. Stanley Conrad Sincerely, William Conrad 1119 Red Fox Rd New Creek, WV 26743-8717 wstanleyconrad@duck.com

My name is Amy and I live in Canaan Valley, WV. I am writing to oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. Protecting these public lands is personal to me. My kids and I spend most of our free time on Dolly Sods, Blackwater Wildlife Refuge, and on the back roads in Tucker and many beautiful mountains and rivers in our area. The forests and wild places around us are a huge part of what makes this place special. Our clean water, wildlife, quiet trails, and the sense that there are still places here that haven’t been carved up and developed. Repealing the Roadless Rule puts 182,000 acres of West Virginia’s national forests at greater risk of roads and logging. Once those places are cut up into pieces, we can’t just put them back into place. These lands belong to all of us. Please keep the Roadless Rule and protect the wild places that make Canaan Valley and West Virginia so special. Sincerely, Amy Margolies 210 Cortland Rd Davis, WV 26260-8351 margolies.amy@gmail.com

I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. Our national forests are public lands, our shared birthright, and they should be protected for the benefit of everyone, not opened to greater roadbuilding and commercial logging. In West Virginia, the Roadless Rule safeguards treasured places like Roaring Plains, Seneca Creek, Cheat Mountain, Canaan Mountain and Tea Creek - all of which I have camped or backpacked in. The Roadless Rule also protects our Wilderness areas (Dolly Sods, Otter Creek and Cranberry Wilderness) by providing important buffers around them. The Roadless Rule provides wild, unfragmented landscapes that equate to clean water, wildlife habitat and irreplaceable opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once they are lost, they are not easily restored. Please preserve the Roadless Rule and protect our shared public lands for future generations. Sincerely, Edward Tucker 110 11th Ave W Huntington, WV 25701-3121 ewt@etarch.com

I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. I camp and hike quite a bit and value my WV forested areas. The thought of more roads being built built in our currently protected areas breaks my heart. Wild places need to remain wild. Not just for recreation purposes for me and future generations, but also for our watersheds. Thank you, >Kim. Sincerely, Kim Miller 223 Chestnut St Apt 304 Morgantown, WV 26505-5792 kim5306@aol.com

I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless rule. My father and uncles spent their time hiking and enjoying those areas. My grandfather and great grandfather fought to keep them free. My second, third, fourth and fifth grandfathers carved a life out in these mountains. My children have a right to enjoy them as generations before have. The women of my family bore children and built futures here. Respect what the Lord has created for us. Sincerely, Timothy Hines 341 N Bolton St Romney, WV 26757-1303 hinest614@gmail.com

I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. My beautiful home state of West Virginia has a history of commercial extraction, and this repeal would open us up to further exploitation. I stand with the West Virginians who treasure our Wild & Wonderful state, as well as those in other parts of the country that are firmly against this repeal. Our national forests are public lands, our shared birthright, and they should be protected for the benefit of everyone, not opened to greater roadbuilding and commercial logging. In West Virginia, the Roadless Rule safeguards treasured places like Roaring Plains, Seneca Creek, Cheat Mountain, Canaan Mountain and Tea Creek, while protecting important buffers around Dolly Sods, Otter Creek and Cranberry. These wild, unfragmented landscapes provide clean water, wildlife habitat and irreplaceable opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once they are lost, we cannot easily restore them. Please preserve the Roadless Rule and protect our shared public lands for future generations. Sincerely, Meghan Braley 67 Upper Plantation Rd Danese, WV 25831-7249 meghanpbraley@gmail.com

I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. Our national forests are public lands, our shared birthright, and they should be protected for the benefit of everyone, not opened to greater roadbuilding and commercial logging. In West Virginia, the Roadless Rule safeguards treasured places like Roaring Plains, Seneca Creek, Cheat Mountain, Canaan Mountain and Tea Creek, while protecting important buffers around Dolly Sods, Otter Creek and Cranberry. These wild, unfragmented landscapes provide clean water, wildlife habitat and irreplaceable opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once they are lost, we cannot easily restore them. Please preserve the Roadless Rule and protect our shared public lands for future generations. Let’s keep our Mountain Mama beautiful. Sincerely, Savanna Brown 248 Orchard Xing Morgantown, WV 26505-1726 stbrown92@gmail.com

Living in Pocahontas County, WV I can the Monongahela National Forest home. The beauty draws me in and has led me develop a love of hiking, backpacking and birding. The wildlife, rivers and pristine places must remain for the benefit of not just humans but for all the living things that are dependent upon the treasures made possible and preserved by the Roadless Rule. I strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule. Our national forests are public lands, our shared birthright, and they should be protected for the benefit of everyone, not opened to greater roadbuilding and commercial logging. In West Virginia, the Roadless Rule safeguards treasured places like Roaring Plains, Seneca Creek, Cheat Mountain, Canaan Mountain and Tea Creek, while protecting important buffers around Dolly Sods, Otter Creek and Cranberry. These wild, unfragmented landscapes provide clean water, wildlife habitat and irreplaceable opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once they are lost, we cannot easily restore them. Please preserve the Roadless Rule and protect our shared public lands for future generations. Sincerely, Judith Mohr 191 Seneca Dr Buckeye, WV 24924-9166 jodynic77@gmail.com