“I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposal to fully or partially rescind the 2001 Roadless…”

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 resident of Texas and an advocate for our nation’s public lands, inventoried roadless areas matter deeply to me. I frequently visit and recreate in Colorado, where I hike and enjoy unspoiled nature. 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, Alethea Schroen Italy, TX 76651