“balance interests of the forest industry and environmental protection”
What it names
Works cited
Johnston et al. 2023
The comment
Hello. I live in Haywood County North Carolina. Forty (40) percent of our land area is made up of national park or national forest. These areas are vital to our economy in many ways, not least of which is outdoor recreation and the forest products industry. The main road from my house to Waynesville abuts access to Cataloochee Valley, a large mulch yard, a hardwood floor company and a timber frame home business. My home county is sustained by forest resources in many ways. I believe that the current status with the Roadless Area Conservation Rule intact is the best path forward. It already seeks to balance interests of the forest industry and environmental protection with its restrictions and exemptions. The argument of the rule being a burden doesn't make sense. One of the original intents of the rule was to relieve administrative burdens. These would return in its absence. For these reasons as well as the overarching and increasing importance of protecting our public lands and waters, I urge you to maintain the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. I appreciate your consideration of my comments.