I am writing to submit a public comment on the Notice of Intention to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has contributed to America’s greatness in a variety of ways. From supplying over 120 million people with clean water to protecting lands from wildfires as observed and researched by governmental groups and peer-reviewed studies. In addition, these untouched lands provide countless memories for Americans and non-Americans alike. The Roadless Rule has shown to be a tried-and-true legislative action that not only preserves nature but also provide common ground for all people to gather and protect through various efforts for everyone to enjoy. With that said, I strongly oppose the rescission of the Roadless Rule
Millions of people who live in the United States rely on public water systems and most of that water comes from forested lands. The Roadless Rule has been a monumental act which provide millions of Americans with daily fresh drinking water while protecting many habitats and allowing for native plants and species to thrive. Finally, the Roadless Rule has consistently shown that this is a great law for America since the water quality tends to be better and higher when protected within the Roadless Rule areas.
As recent as 2020 from the Forest Service, they stated that “a lack of roads has not stopped fire prevention measures; fuel management activities in roadless areas have actually been more numerous on a per-square kilometer basis than elsewhere in the National Forest System.” 2 Since this has come from the Forest Service itself, the reasoning to repeal the Roadless Rule per Secretary Brooke Rollins is incorrect. Further, in a 2025 public comment where 4 former Forest Service Chiefs signed off on a letter that stated, “We remain convinced that repealing the 2001 Rule will not be in the long-term interest of the American people, Forest Service employees, and the communities they serve” 3 These former leaders have overseen and managed the National Forests with extensive knowledge and experience. To dismiss their words and still move forward to remove the Roadless Rules means dismissing the evidence, observations, and experience of Mike Dombeck, Dale Bosworth, Tom Tidwell, and Vicik Christiansen; these 4 stewards who oversaw much of America and know its lands better than most. I highly recommend re-reading their letter and reconsider the removal of the Roadless Rule.
Lastly, the Roadless Rule has offered countless adventures and trials throughout my life. Living near the Cleveland National Forest has given me the opportunity to appreciate Southern California in many ways. Being in that forest and hiking through the various areas discovering various creeks and seeing what Southern California really looks like with the diverse plants and animals is a stark contrast to being in the city and seeing absolutely little to no diversity or animals. The ability to be at a place where no one is around is a peace that few are able to enjoy and experience. Of course, going through Sequoia National Forest where I would walk amongst giants is a sight to behold. Once you’re off the road and hike a couple kilometers away, you forget that this is also part of California. This Roadless Rule offers a glimpse into the history of each state and what they used to look like before and gives an opportunity for future generations to also appreciate and conserve these lands.
I’ve been to several National Forests and I always make it a point to hike on or through areas where vehicles cannot go in order to experience nature in its untouched form. Cleveland, Sequoia, Lolo, Snoqualmie, Gallatain, and Yellowstone are some of the National Forests I have been to and I can honestly say, that’s America in its rawest form and that’s the shock and awe that a documentary can’t do justice when you see the same scenery in-person. Seeing the power of a waterfall on a screen versus hearing and feeling that power in-person is an incomparable feeling one must experience in a lifetime. I hope to still hike these forests where no roads will run through and I urge the agency to:
- Conduct a thorough environmental analysis of roadless areas to assess the impacts of additional road building;
- Guarantee that no watersheds will be negatively affected by rescission;
- Commit to moving forward with transparency, including a full account of how public comments were considered and concerns addressed.
Regards,
Quang Thai
References:
1. Olden JD, Postel SL, Dombeck MP, Kesting H, Freeman P, Comte L (2026) Assessing the value of the U.S. Roadless Rule for people and nature. PLOS Water 5(7): e0000538. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000538
2. Sean P Healey 2020 Environ. Res. Lett. 15 104023 (2020) Long-term forest health implications of roadlessness
3. https://forestpolicypub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Chiefs-9-15-25-Comments-to-Roadless-NOI.pdf