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To whom it may concern,
I am writing to voice my opposition to the rescission of the 2001 Roadless Rule. My name is Aaron Salb, and I grew up in rural Northeastern Oregon. I am an avid hunter and fisherman and often utilized both the Umatilla National Forest and the Wenaha Tucannon Wilderness Area. I still return every November to pursue elk there. In fact, tomorrow I am leaving on a high-country mule deer hunt in the nearby Eagle Cap Wilderness Area. I cherish our nation’s public lands. They provide a respite from daily, modern life. I would really lament it if areas like these were opened to motorized use, which totally detracts from the natural beauty and solitude they provide.
One of the main reasons why the US Forest Service is recommending this course of action is to mitigate wildfires. This is a faulty line of reasoning. According to FUSEE (Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics & Ecology), 80% of fires are human caused and 80% of all fires occur within a half mile of roads. May I candidly ask: how does building more roads, which are expensive to build and later maintain, prevent more fires if their initial ignition occurs near roads? It is counterintuitive in my opinion.
As I understand it there have been over 900K public comments made on this issue and 99% of those are in opposition to the repeal of the Roadless Rule. The will of the people is very clear on this issue. I hope and trust that our elected officials will honor their obligation to listen and obey their constituents.