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Subject: Public Comment Supporting the “No Action” Alternative – Opposing the Rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule
To: USDA Forest Service Planning Team
Re: Notice of Intent to Rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (90 FR 42179)
Dear USDA Forest Service Planning Team,
As an active trail advocate, mountain biker, and member of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA), I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. I urge the Forest Service to select the “No Action” alternative, maintaining the vital protections provided by the 2001 Roadless Rule.
Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) protect intact watersheds, preserve natural landscapes, prevent harmful forest fragmentation, and safeguard irreplaceable backcountry mountain biking experiences.
My connection to the Pisgah National Forest is deeply personal. I chose to live in Brevard because of its extraordinary access to the Pisgah National Forest and, in particular, its world-class mountain biking trail network. The opportunity to ride from our community into an extensive network of natural, backcountry trails is a defining part of what makes Brevard special and one of the primary reasons I call this area home.
Mountain biking and outdoor recreation are also a significant economic engine for Brevard and the surrounding communities. The Pisgah trail network attracts riders and other outdoor enthusiasts from throughout the country, supporting local businesses, restaurants, lodging, bike shops, guides, and other tourism-related businesses. The value of these public lands therefore extends well beyond the trails themselves—they help sustain the character, quality of life, and economic vitality of our community.
For me, protecting the roadless character of these lands is about preserving something that cannot be recreated once it is lost. The primitive setting, interconnected trail experience, intact forests, and natural watersheds are precisely what make riding in Pisgah so exceptional. I want future residents and visitors to have the same opportunity to experience these places in their natural state that influenced my decision to make Brevard my home.
Rescinding the 2001 Rule threatens to open these prized lands to road construction and resource extraction, risking the integrity of beloved non-motorized trail networks, increasing the spread of invasive species, and damaging the outdoor recreation economy that local communities rely upon.
The Forest Service should prioritize protecting these unique backcountry spaces. Please uphold existing protections and adopt the “No Action” alternative in the Environmental Impact Statement.