“Subject: Public Comment Supporting the “No Action” Alternative – Opposing the Rescission of the 2001 Roadless…”

Subject: Public Comment Supporting the “No Action” Alternative – Opposing the Rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule To: USDA Forest Service Planning Team Re: Notice of Intent to Rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (90 FR 42179) Dear USDA Forest Service Planning Team, As an active trail advocate, mountain biker, and member of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA), I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. I urge the Forest Service to select the “No Action” alternative, maintaining the vital protections provided by the 2001 Roadless Rule. Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) protect intact watersheds, preserve natural landscapes, prevent harmful forest fragmentation, and safeguard irreplaceable backcountry mountain biking experiences. As someone who frequently rides the backcountry trails in the Pisgah National Forest, these Roadless Areas offer a remote, high-quality riding experience that cannot be replicated on developed lands. Protecting these corridors ensures future generations of trail users can enjoy the same primitive, pristine environment. Rescinding the 2001 Rule threatens to open these prized lands to road construction and resource extraction, risking the integrity of beloved non-motorized trail networks, increasing the spread of invasive species, and damaging the outdoor recreation economy that local communities rely upon. The Forest Service should prioritize protecting these unique backcountry spaces. Please uphold existing protections and adopt the “No Action” alternative in the Environmental Impact Statement. Thank you.