Dear U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz,
I’m writing to urge you to choose Alternative 1 and keep the 2001 Roadless Rule intact. Undeveloped sections of our U.S. national forests are an asset from which every American can take pride. During my lifetime enjoying public lands across the U.S. West, I have encountered countless individuals in awe of the size, scope and beauty of our U.S. national forests. Some of the most memorable interactions I have had in these settings have been with individuals visiting from other countries, who shared with me that their appreciation for U.S. national forests stems in large part from the fact that in their home countries, there is no such land that has been largely untouched by human development and has been set aside and protected for public benefit. After living and working in the Eastern Sierra of California in the heart of the Inyo National Forest, I came to understand the value that U.S. national forests provide millions of visitors that recreate in them throughout the year. The Roadless Rule has been a critical safeguard for the American asset of undeveloped national forest land, and has provided countless benefits to the people and biodiversity that rely on our public lands for clean air, clean water, and access to America's most pristine natural environments.
Rescinding the Roadless Rule will open the door for increased development across our national forests, leading to the degradation of one of America's most valuable treasures: our national forests.
Please take the time and proceedings necessary to ensure this change is not adopted without the voice of the American people taken into consideration. Continue to extend the opportunity for public comment, and hold court proceedings across the U.S. so that the public can share how opening up our national forests to development will impact local communities in the present and into the future. This proposal does not have my support, and I urge you to please choose no-action and uphold the Roadless Rule.
Sincerely,
Oliver Fahrner
Tucson, AZ 85737
ohf222@gmail.com