Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 6/24Posted August 22, 2026 On Regulations.gov
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Docket ID: FS-2025-0001 / RIN: 0596-AD66
Subject: Public Comment in Strong Opposition to Rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Removing these protections will severely threaten the ecological integrity of the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) by triggering irreversible habitat fragmentation. The WMNF is a critical ecological sanctuary in the densely populated Northeast. It provides large, contiguous blocks of intact forest that are vital for the survival of numerous wildlife species. Rescinding the Roadless Rule opens the door to road construction and industrial logging in areas that are currently undisturbed.
I urge the Forest Service to maintain the 2001 Roadless Rule for the WMNF based on the following critical impacts:
Disruption of Wildlife Corridors: Species such as the American marten, Canada lynx, and black bear rely on large, unbroken forest patches to hunt, mate, and migrate. New roads act as physical barriers that slice through these habitats, isolating wildlife populations and reducing genetic diversity.
Edge Effects and Invasive Species: Building roads creates artificial "edges" that alter local microclimates, increasing sunlight and wind penetration deep into the forest. This degrades the interior habitat required by sensitive deep-forest species and creates pathways for invasive plants and pests to choke out native ecology.
Acoustic Pollution: Roads introduce ongoing vehicular noise. This disrupts wildlife communication, elevates stress levels in animals, and drives sensitive species away from vital feeding and nesting grounds.
Increased Wildfire Risks: The argument that roads are needed to prevent fires ignores local reality. More roads mean more human access, which statistically increases the risk of human-caused ignitions in previously pristine areas.
The 2001 Roadless Rule has successfully protected the wildest corners of New England for a quarter-century. The Forest Service must prioritize long-term ecological resilience and habitat connectivity over short-term resource extraction. Please withdraw this proposal and keep the 2001 Roadless Rule fully intact.
Sincerely,
Timothy M. Frazier
214 Valley Road
Sullivan, NH 03445