I urge the U.S. Forest Service to keep the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule in place and adopt the No Action Alternative. I oppose rescinding this rule. As a North Dakota resident, I value the roadless areas within the Little Missouri National Grassland and the Dakota Prairie Grasslands. These lands are already a small fraction of what once qualified for wilderness protection, and further road-building would put what remains at risk. Roadless areas support clean water, wildlife habitat, and the hunting, hiking, and horseback riding that many of us in this state depend on for recreation and quality of life.
The Roadless Rule does not prevent responsible management. Grazing, habitat restoration, and hazardous fuels reduction can all continue under the existing rule. Rescinding it would add to the Forest Service's already substantial road maintenance backlog and, based on available research, could increase wildfire risk rather than reduce it, since ignitions are more common near roads than in roadless areas.
Modern horizontal drilling technology means oil and gas development does not require new roads into these areas. There is no need to trade away 44 million acres of national forest protections nationwide, including North Dakota's remaining wild places, to support energy development that can happen elsewhere. Please retain the Roadless Rule.