Comment Analysis · Docket FS-2025-0001

FS-2025-0001-260729

Supports rescissionA0 noneSubstance 7/24Posted August 23, 2026 On Regulations.gov

In short: The comment documents that the Hoodoo WSA in Powell County, Montana, suffered significant damage from the Devils Mountain and Windy Rock fires, citing specific acreage and cost figures to argue for the construction of fire breaks and roads in that specific location.

Scored directly — The comment's whole text was scored on its own.

Scorecard

Each dimension is scored 0–3; the eight sum to the substance score out of 24.

  • Specific placeNames a specific location — from a region down to an exact creek, trail, road, or map reference.
  • Local knowledgeDraws on a first-hand connection to the place — visits, sustained activity, occupation, or a professional role.
  • EA analysisEngages the agency's environmental analysis directly.
  • Analytical gapIdentifies something the analysis fails to address.
  • EvidenceBacks claims with specific facts, data, or research.
  • RequestMakes a specific, actionable request of the agency.
  • AlternativeProposes a different course of action.
  • LegalCites statutes, regulations, or legal obligations.

How hard it is to set aside

A0 none: Counted, not answered.

Still open to the agency

  • Alternative already eliminated The agency says it considered and eliminated the alternative the comment proposes, with a reason. Cannot be defeated from the comment text alone.
  • Already addressed The agency says its analysis already covers the point. Defeated when the comment cites the law itself: there is no analysis to cite against a statutory claim.
  • Deferred to a later decision The agency says the point belongs to a later, site-specific decision. Cannot be defeated from the comment text alone.
  • Misreads the proposal The agency says the comment misunderstands what is proposed. Defeated when the comment engages the proposal or a named place directly.
  • Not required The agency says the analysis the comment asks for is not required. Cannot be defeated from the comment text alone.
  • Preference noted The agency notes the comment as a statement of preference and takes no action on it. Cannot be defeated from the comment text alone.
  • No cause and effect shown The agency says the comment asserts a harm without showing how the action causes it. Defeated when the comment shows the mechanism.
  • Outside the scope The agency says the comment asks about a different action. Defeated when the comment is specific and tied to this proposal.
  • Certified not substantive The agency certifies the comment raises nothing substantive. Defeated when the comment alleges illegality, which is substantive by the definition the certification runs on.

Topics

What it names

Roadless areas
Wilderness Study Area

The comment

Shaded passages are the ones the analysis quoted as evidence for a dimension: Specific place

Dear USFS, My husband and I live very close to a wilderness study area. The Hoodoo WSA in Powell County Montana. Last year 2025, lightening started The Devils Mountain fire, easy to happen when there are 4 feet of biofuels on the forest floor. Of course there were no maintained trails nor roads for fire fighters to reach the fire for containment. EVERY WSA, conservation area, and National Forest, should have a fire break/road around it. It is time to do it differently! If you cannot take care of the forest, especially after a beetle invasion, and turn your responsibility away from the dead trees and biofuels, don’t complain about climate change! A forest fire is a climate related risk. And, God knows we have had so many these past few years. Yes, yes, yes, rescind the rule, make those roads, do the forest management projects, call it carbon management, help the high risk forests be more resilient. A fire doesn't care if a forest is inventoried or not, and my guess is, if it is Inventoried it has more to offer a fire. Yes, absolutely YES! Eventually, the Devil Mountain fire grew into the Windy Rock Fire, which was also started by lightening in the same WSA. Two hundred and forty acres of private lands burned. Time for a serious evaluation of future fire mitigation. The Hoodoo WSA was 11,380 acres, more than half of it was burnt up! The most expensive fire in Montana at a price tag of $70 million dollars. That could build a lot of fire roads or breaks. Thank you, for the opportunity to comment. Mary Helen Warren

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