FS-2025-0001-560665

October 5, 2026 To: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Forest Service Roadless Team Agency: U.S. Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Docket ID: FS-2025-0001 Subject: Formal Comments on the Proposed Rule to Rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule To Whom It May Concern: Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. I'm writing this comment while 31 weeks pregnant to urge you to keep the Roadless Rule for my child and future generations of Americans. I want my child to have access to the beautiful, biodiverse roadless areas across our country, like Caples Creek Inventoried Roadless Area and Pyramid Inventoried Roadless Area in Northern California. Roadless areas across our beautiful country provide endless opportunity - the opportunity to explore, to recharge, to take a break from digital devices. In addition to the many mental health and wellness benefits, roadless areas provide local economic opportunities for outdoor retailers, restaurants, lodging, and tour companies. One reason why the administration says they want to rescind the roadless rule is because of wildfires. There is ample research showing that wildfires occur more frequently near roads, not in the remote backcountry roadless areas (one example: https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/features/fire-never-starts). There is also the fact that there's a lack of funding. USFS already has a $6.9 billion deferred maintenance backlog for roads and bridges. How does the agency plan to maintain new roads when it already cannot maintain existing roads? The Roadless Rule is immensely popular amongst Americans. A recent poll commissioned by the Pew Charitable Trusts finds that "support for the Roadless Rule is broad-based, bipartisan and includes strong majorities regardless of party affiliation, age, geographic region of the USA, ethnicity, gender, or educational background. Among Republicans and Trump voters, 77% and 76% support the Roadless Rule, respectively. Among Democrats and Independents, support is 76% and 73%, respectively." (https://www.pew.org/-/media/assets/2026/02/national-poll-on-roadless-rule.pdf) I urge the USDA to retain the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule by selecting Alternative 1, the No Action Alternative, in the final decision. Please protect these public lands for the communities and businesses across our country that rely on them, and the people that find joy and adventure in recreating in them. Please stand on the right side of history and think of future generations of Americans and their right to access these lands. Sincerely, Carol Shu