Dear Secretary Rollins,
I strongly oppose the USDA’s proposal to eliminate or weaken the Roadless Rule which includes 58.5 million acres of National Forests and Wilderness areas. This reckless action would devastate public lands, waste taxpayer resources, and undermine the water, wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities on which millions of Americans depend. The American public have spoken and the Roadless Rule is incredibly popular with both Democrat and Republican voters. This issue is so popular in fact, it is one of the only issues that unite both political parties.
Roadless forests represent some of the most intact, resilient ecosystems left in our country. They filter and store clean drinking water, provide refuge for vulnerable species, and serve as critical carbon sinks critical to mitigating the worsening impacts of climate change. People hike, find inspiration, take photos, make art, make music, camp, backpack, forage, bike, fish, camp, ski, climb, and find solace in these remote places. In addition, the American people find solitude, mental as well as spiritual wellbeing in these roadless areas. These wild places are a refuge from the hustle of city life and a momentarily escape from the technological world. These roadless wilderness areas also provide income for local communities including the outdoor industries, camping supplies, fishing equipment, trading posts, and hiking and trail guides.
Roads spread invasive species, fragment wildlife habitat, and erode the very ecological resilience we need in the face of a warming climate. More roads in the backcountry also mean more fires: research shows wildfires are more likely to ignite near roads. Once roads and clearcuts fragment these landscapes, the damage is permanent. Weakening or repealing the Roadless Rule would be a grave mistake.
I do and I know there's millions of other American citizens that love there public lands. For me here in the PNW there are so many diverse landscapes within the roadless wilderness. I love to keep discovering more areas and escape Portland, Oregon from time to time. I camp, backpack and take photos as well as make works of art inspired by these wild places that I have come to know personally. I would like to share a few places with you here that the Roadless Rule includes that are close to me. Indian Heaven Wilderness, Mount Hood National Forest, Mount Jefferson Wilderness, Mount Washington Wilderness, Three Sisters Wilderness, Hebo Mountain, Gilford Pinchot Nation Forest, Olympic National Forest and Wilderness. The list could go on and on. Each one of these special places hold a special place in my heart with stories and memories that are irreplaceable and I know it's the same for millions of other Americans too. These wilderness have become a sense of place, wellbeing and hold a hope of the future for me.
I do not support any of the proposed action alternatives that roll back the Roadless Rule. I urge the USDA to abandon this misguided effort and instead strengthen its commitment to protecting America’s roadless forests for the clean water, climate resilience, recreation, and biodiversity they provide. Leave the Roadless Rule in place and please continue to protect this rule that has been in place for 26 years.
References:
Aplet, G.H., Hartger, P. & Dietz, M.S. Three-decade record of contiguous-U.S. national forest wildfires indicates increased density of ignitions near roads. fire ecol 22, 8 (2026) https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-026-00450-2
Mildrexler, D.J., Berner, L.T., Law, B.E. & Both, M.S. Roadless rule rescission threatens highest integrity forest ecosystems in the United States. Biological Conservation 321, 111950 (2026) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111950
Sincerely,
Michael Farley
Portland, OR 97211-6369
mfarley11@hotmail.com