Comment Analysis · Docket FS-2025-0001

FS-2025-0001-460024

Opposes rescissionA3 weakSubstance 9/24Owed an answerPosted September 21, 2026 On Regulations.gov

Campaign — One letter sent by 10 or more people, copied or lightly reworded. This comment stands for 188 submissions in its group. See the letter, its submissions and topics.

In short: The comment documents that the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule protects approximately 201 miles of the Appalachian Trail, including its southern terminus at Springer Mountain, and cites the Forest Service's analysis indicating that rescission would lead to habitat fragmentation, water resource impacts, and reduced recreation opportunities.

Scored as the letter — The shared letter of a family, scored once for everyone who sent it.

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

A3 weak: Substantive, but easier to set aside.

Owed an answer on Evidence.

Standard dismissals it defeats

Misreads the proposal The agency says the comment misunderstands what is proposed. Defeated when the comment engages the proposal or a named place directly.
Outside the scope The agency says the comment asks about a different action. Defeated when the comment is specific and tied to this proposal.

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.
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.
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
- “nearly 50% of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) contained within them”
- “protect the scenic, natural, and remote qualities”
- “reduced opportunities for quiet and remote recreation”
- “diminish the experience of hiking and visiting the Trail”
Environmental Protection Biodiversity
- “result in habitat fragmentation”
- “impacts to water resources”
- “fragment the landscape surrounding the Trail”
- “introduce noise, development, and other impacts”
Water Quality Quantity
- “impacts to water resources”
- “ensure that any changes to roadless-area management fully account for impacts to... water resources”
Wildlife Habitat
- “result in habitat fragmentation”
- “ensure that any changes to roadless-area management fully account for impacts to... wildlife habitat”

The comment

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

Dear Secretary Rollins, I urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to maintain the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule and reject its proposed rescission. Since 2001, The Roadless Rule has provided consistent land management for our national forests and nearly 50% of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) contained within them. The A.T.'s southern terminus at Springer Mountain begins in an area protected by the Roadless Rule, and approximately 201 miles of the Trail (9% of its length) pass through "inventoried roadless areas." The Roadless Rule helps protect the scenic, natural, and remote qualities that make the A.T. a nationally treasured resource and one of the most visited public land units in the nation The Forest Service's own analysis recognizes that rescission could increase road construction and result in habitat fragmentation, impacts to water resources, increased noise, visible infrastructure, and reduced opportunities for quiet and remote recreation. Changes to these landscapes can affect the A.T. experience even when the Trail's thin corridor itself remains intact. Rescinding the Roadless Rule could also add to an already substantial Forest Service road-maintenance burden. The National Forest System already contains hundreds of thousands of miles of roads, many of which require significant resources to maintain. We should take care of the roads we have before creating additional long-term obligations through new road construction in currently roadless areas. For the A.T., additional roads can also fragment the landscape surrounding the Trail and introduce noise, development, and other impacts that diminish the experience of hiking and visiting the Trail. I urge the USDA to retain the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule and ensure that any changes to roadless-area management fully account for impacts to the Appalachian Trail, recreation, water resources, wildlife habitat, and the Forest Service's long-term ability to manage its transportation system.