FS-2025-0001-578872

Dear Special Areas: Roadless Conservation, I strongly OPPOSE the rescinding of the Roadless Rule & I urge you to choose the No Action alternative, which will keep the Roadless Rule in place . Nothing will be accomplished from rescinding this rule, and allowing roads to destroy and taint our beloved national parks & public lands. Only harm can result from this. For more than two decades, the rule has protected roughly 44.7 million acres of ecologically intact national forest lands, including areas near Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Great Smoky Mountains national parks. These wild places help provide many resources that we all depend on such as fresh food & clean water. They also provide various recreational & tourism opportunities & careers to many. Tourism is a major pillar of the US economy, generating up to roughly $2.9 trillion in total economic output. These parks also help keep ecosystems healthy & support many species of wildlife (especially those that are endangered and/or the brink of extinction) and they also help regulate the climate, which is ESSENTIAL due to the threats of climate change we are currently facing. To rescind the Roadless Rule would mean to destroy these many opportunities by having roads cut through national parks & public lands. This will destroy the habitats of many species of plants and animals, cut off many necessary waterways, and create more pollution. Many public lands are already available for timber and energy development. Rescinding this rule will also sabotage a major pillar of our country's economy, which is tourism. It will cause many people in this sector to lose their jobs, and the economy will suffer and decline HEAVILY because of that. Please do NOT proceed with rescinding this law. Keep the Roadless Rule in place to protect the forests, wildlife, clean water, climate, and the national parks. Sincerely, Arjun Mandayam Arjun Mandayam 1105 Tall Grass Cir (Apt 204) Stow, OH 44224