Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 6/24Posted September 1, 2026 On Regulations.gov
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Specific placeNames a specific location — from a region down to an exact creek, trail, road, or map reference.
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Dear Secretary Rollins and Chief Schultz:
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. As an outdoor enthusiast, I believe the administrative record supporting the 2001 Rule—developed over years of rigorous scientific analysis and extensive public engagement—represents a proportionality of process that the current proposed rescission has failed to match. The Department should seriously consider this deficit before proceeding.
In particular, I request that the Department maintain protections for the Ellicott Rock roadless area in the Sumter National Forest. This area holds profound historical and geographical significance as the junction where Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina meet—a gathering place for people long before state borders were established. Located just two hours from my home in Greenville, South Carolina, it stands as a rare and irreplaceable wild landscape in the southeastern United States.
My connection to Ellicott Rock is deeply personal. In 2016, I first visited this area with my 11-year-old son just before he joined BSA Troop 19 of Greenville. It was a magical experience defined by the total absence of motorized vehicles and the absolute presence of nature. Memories of swimming in the cold, clear river, catching and cooking crayfish, and hanging our first bear bag marked the beginning of a decade of outdoor adventures for us. Ellicott Rock is not just another busy, overrun destination crowded with gas-powered vehicles; it is a sanctuary.
Rescinding the Roadless Rule would open Ellicott Rock to road construction and severe ground disturbance. A specific comment on this area is vital because the direct and indirect impacts of roads extend far beyond the asphalt or gravel surface itself:
Landscape Fragmentation: Roads heavily impact the broader ecosystem. An estimated 15 to 20 percent of the contiguous United States is ecologically affected by roads due to edge effects, altered runoff patterns, and downstream disturbance (Forman & Alexander, 1998). Globally, while 80 percent of Earth's terrestrial surface remains roadless, most of that area is severely fragmented into patches smaller than one square kilometer (Ibisch et al., 2016).
Persistent Environmental Degradation: Road construction permanently alters the physical environment. It compacts soil to roughly 200 times the density of undisturbed forest soil and alters at least eight major physical characteristics of the landscape. These disturbance patterns persist for decades; even logging skid trails show measurable damage 40 years after their last use (Trombulak & Frissell, 2000).
The public deserves the right to experience Ellicott Rock and our nation's remaining roadless areas without the intrusion of motorized noise, soil erosion, and the siltation of pristine creeks and rivers. Because so little of our public land is set aside to preserve these roadless qualities, I urge the Department to withdraw the proposed action and allow the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule to remain fully operative.
Respectfully,
CommentID: RLC-20260831-SF8CJY