Comment Analysis · Docket FS-2025-0001

FS-2025-0001-424863

Opposes rescissionA0 noneSubstance 7/24Posted September 16, 2026 On Regulations.gov

In short: The comment establishes that specific locations within the Roadless Rule's reclassification boundaries, including Laurel Mountain, South Mills River, Wilson Creek, and the Turkey Pen Gap trail network in the Asheville area, are valued for their undisturbed settings and recreational use, and requests the upholding of the current Roadless Rule to protect these areas.

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
- “robust and yet still diverse ecology that is on display for travelers”
- “most cherished backcountry routes for riding and hiking”
- “quiet and undisturbed settings”
- “won't hear a chainsaw, motor bike, or anything but birds”
Environmental Protection Biodiversity
- “preserving robust ecosystems that are resilient to erosion”
- “Protecting watersheds”
- “wide boundary analysis that is vital when considering what ought to be done with these protected forest lands”
- “invasive species management”
Water Quality Quantity
- “Protecting watersheds”
- “resilient to erosion”
- “water trickling down a little mountain ravine”

What it names

National Forests: Pisgah National Forest
Roadless areas: Laurel MountainLittle MountainSouth Mills RiverWilson Creek

The comment

To the US Forest Service, I am a full time resident of the Asheville area. Folks drawn to this area come for many reasons, but one of the top reasons is Pisgah National Forest's robust and yet still diverse ecology that is on display for travelers of the Blue Ridge Parkway, backpackers, Mountain Bikers, and all in between. Areas that are within the Roadless Rule's reclassification boundaries are places like Laurel Mountain, South Mills River, & Wilson Creek are some of my most cherished backcountry routes for riding and hiking. These places brings me great peace with their quiet and undisturbed settings. Spend a day out in the Turkey Pen Gap trail network and you won't hear a chainsaw, motor bike, or anything but birds, the breeze, & water trickling down a little mountain ravine. Its magical to have this right out our front doors. A little place and reason to be proud of our country for what it protects and shares with its people. We in W. North Carolina have been through a lot over the past few years and nearly everyone with the means to do so has given back to the community or the damaged public lands in some way. Caring for these forest lands through trail work, invasive species management, & debris cleanup gives us a connection to place and it brings us into contact with our community. Caring for place feels like a rare thing. Please let the US government show it understands this. It will have lasting impressions especially on young people who are beginning to feel that nothing is sacred. My comments above are mostly personal and go less into the research. There are organizations in our area that have done the analysis of what is at stake with the reconsideration of the Roadless Rule and its impact on our mountains. Please weigh their comments. They are not decelerationists. They understand the resource demands of a growing world, but they are doing the wide boundary analysis that is vital when considering what ought to be done with these protected forest lands. Protecting watersheds and preserving robust ecosystems that are resilient to erosion were two of the main objectives behind the US forest service's founding. Please consider upholding the current roadless rule for our area. As they say when we win its temporary, when they (big timber, big oil, mining interests) its permanant. Let's please not give them another winning hand this year.