Comment Analysis · Docket FS-2025-0001

FS-2025-0001-324562

Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 4/24Posted September 7, 2026 On Regulations.gov

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

Recreation Tourism Public Use
- “active user of public lands, including roadless areas”
- “experiencing nature away from roads”
- “opportunity for outdoor recreation”
- “continued recreation”
Environmental Protection Biodiversity
- “protecting nature from excessive trash and dumping issues”
- “important for habitat preservation”
- “observe rare and threatened species in their natural habitat”
- “preservation of habitat”

What it names

Roadless areas: Caples CreekCottonwood CreekGrouse LakesLakes BasinSouth Beartooth HighwaySouth Fork

The comment

I have been an active user of public lands, including roadless areas, my entire life. I frequently recreate in roadless areas in several states, but primarily in California, Nevada, and Wyoming. Some of my life's best memories are from experiencing nature away from roads, such as hiking with my young daughter in the South Beartooth Highway roadless area south of Gardner Lake in Wyoming in 2015. I regularly hike and camp in roadless areas in California, including the Grouse Lakes area in California (Region 5). Just in the last year and a half, I have gone on four separate overnight backpacking trips in the Grouse Lakes area, visiting Penner Lake and the Five Lakes Basin. I have also camped and hiked twice in the Dardanelles area in the last year. I also frequently hike in the Caples Creek area, including one overnight trip in 2024 to Shealor Lake with my husband and daughter. Roadless areas provide an opportunity for outdoor recreation while protecting nature from excessive trash and dumping issues. I explored the Boundary Peak roadless area in June 2025 with my husband. We hiked and camped overnight by Cottonwood Creek. As we hiked along the former jeep trail upstream along the south fork of Cottonwood Creek towards McCloud camp, we had not yet seen any vehicles, but I suddenly noticed a proliferation of garbage along the trail. Instead of the pristine creek surrounded by nothing but native plants, I saw bottles, cans, and wrappers. I checked the map and realized that we had just left the roadless area. Soon enough we reached the McCloud camp area and met campers fishing for and eating the protected trout, as well as the continued proliferation of garbage. As an amateur naturalist, I observe plants, animals, birds, and insects in all of these areas. As is well-documented, roadless areas are important for habitat preservation and provide an opportunity for people to observe rare and threatened species in their natural habitat. I ask the Forest Service to keep the Roadless Rule in place for continued recreation, for the preservation of habitat, and for the prevention of littering and degradation of resources.