FS-2025-0001-513151

Docket ID: FS-2025-0001 / RIN 0596-AD66 Subject: Strongly Oppose the Rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule Dear Secretary Rollins and the U.S. Forest Service, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. For 25 years, this rule has successfully protected 45 million acres of America’s wildest public lands from reckless commercial logging, mining, and unnecessary road construction. While I object to this nationwide rollback, I am particularly deeply concerned about the devastating impacts this decision will have on the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia holds the most designated roadless acreage in the eastern United States, spanning nearly 394,000 acres across the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Stripping these protections will instantly expose 84% of these fragile lands—over 332,000 acres—to commercial development. Unmanaged roadbuilding and timber harvesting in pristine areas like Little River, Skidmore Fork, Adams Peak, and Little Walker Mountain will permanently harm our state by: Endangering Clean Water: Fragmenting these forests threatens critical watersheds that supply clean drinking water to downstream communities. Destroying Outdoor Recreation: These areas contain world-class hiking, hunting, angling, and mountain biking trails, including invaluable sections of the Appalachian Trail, which drive our local outdoor recreation economies. Fragmenting Wildlife Habitats: Increased road construction will destroy vital habitat connectivity, increase vehicle-animal collisions, and degrade the cold, clean waters required by dwindling native brook trout. Taxpayer & Operational Burden: It is fiscally irresponsible. With U.S. Forest Service staff reduced by nearly 20%, and a nationwide road maintenance backlog of over $6 billion, it is unrealistic to expect the agency to manage new road systems or safely administer expanded commercial exploitation. National forests are a shared public trust belonging to all Americans, not short-term financial assets to be liquidated at the taxpayers' expense. The existing rule provides a balanced, popular, and deeply valued framework for conservation. I urge the Forest Service to withdraw this misguided proposal and keep the 2001 Roadless Rule fully intact. Sincerely, Casey Witt Clifton Forge, Va