Hi, my name is Thomas Fleming. I’m a frequent hiker who has enjoyed many national forests. I make regular trips to and through Allegheny National Forest, Green Mountain National Forest, and White Mountain National Forest. And this year I also made trips that led me on hikes in Mount Hood National Forest. All places that include inventoried roadless areas.
I’m again stating that I am against the rescinding of the Roadless Rule.
Despite the stated aim of this rescission being to restore local control, it is also in line with Executive Order 14192, regarding deregulation, and Executive Order 14225, regarding expanding timber production. These are goals that serve a broader vision of favoring extractive industries and disfavoring the recreational industries that me and many others who engage with these areas highly value.
Protection of natural areas is never and has never been a default. That is why protections like this are important, and given the executive vision, I simply cannot trust at this time that this rescission will align with what I value about these spaces.