The Forest Service should keep the Roadless Rule intact exactly as it is, utilizing Alternative 1 in the current DEIS. As a leader in the outdoor retail industry in Southern California, am deeply concerned about the proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule.
Roadless areas provide important benefits to communities across the country, including clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, opportunities for outdoor recreation, and protection from the impacts of development. These lands are also an important part of the character and identity of many communities and provide places for people to hike, hunt, fish, camp, ski and otherwise enjoy the outdoors.
I am particularly concerned that rescinding the Roadless Rule could increase development, reduce recreation opportunities, affect wildlife habitat, increase wildfire risk, or harm local economies, like mine--the Inland Empire of Southern California, that depend on outdoor recreation. I serve thousands of customers each year that are outfitting themselves to recreate within the roadless areas of the San Bernadino National Forest--a space literally in our backyard, and should be protected.
The Roadless Rule has provided consistent, nationwide protections for these special places for decades. The Forest Service should not weaken those protections or open currently protected roadless lands to new development. I urge the Forest Service to pursue Alternative 1 and retain the existing Roadless Rule protections.
Sincerely,
Pearl Dailey
12218 Foothill Blvd Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739-9357
pdailey@rei.com