I respectfully urge the US Forest Service to maintain the Roadless Area Conservation Rule by selecting Alternative 1: No Action.
In 2001, As a citizen volunteer, I communicated with Montanans about their use of roadless areas and the potential benefits of a Roadless Rule to Montanans, to national forests in Montana and other large US forested areas. I worked with many others throughout our state. Along with the public participation in other states, a consensus was established that resulted in the Roadless Rule. Participation of the public at ground level was essential in establishing the Roadless Rule. Unfortunately, public participation, people communicating with each other and with the government at local levels is missing in this proposal. Due to its many benefits, people realize throughout the country realize that the Roadless Rule is even more valuable now than in 2001.
Although one of the priorities of this proposal is building new roads in prevention of forest fires, the draft Environmental Impact Statement indicates that new roads will lead to significantly more wildfires, not fewer, and result in increased risk of fires near communities such as many rural communities near roadless in areas in Montana and other states. According to Montana’s Senator, Tim Sheehy states, in his Aug 29, 2026, guest column in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, “The wildland-urban interface is the new front line.” Developing fire-hardened landscapes and investing in fire-safe infrastructure is the path forward. He also states we should centralize wildland-urban interface planning and suppression as a goal, focusing on areas that threaten population centers and prioitize life-saving action. Clearcutting forests to build new roads in roadless areas is the opposite of Senator Sheehy’s recommendations.
Additionally, evidence shows that most wildfires are human caused and increased by drought, high wind, high temperatures, and low humidity. These factors are all on the rise. Besides increasing the risk of wildfires, wildfires cause sedimentation to increase which harms fisheries, spread weeds, and destroys wildlife habitat. New road construction would add to the already immense, costly backlog of UFS road maintenance projects that have been delayed for years.
If the Roadless Rule were rescinded, about 6 million acres of wild national forest lands in Montana would be at risk commercial logging and road building. Nationwide that includes the risk for about 45 million backcountry acres. Backcountry roadless areas in Montana, including the Gallatin National Forest, Bridger-Teton National Forest, and Badger-Two Medicine are places where I walk, hike, cross-county ski and engage in birdwatching, wildlife watching, and other forms of quiet recreation.
Roadless areas provide key connectivity areas and migration corridors for Montana’s iconic wildlife such as elk, mule deer, antelope, grizzly bears, moose and Canada lynx. Some of the most secure habitats for fish and wildlife exist in roadless areas. Roadbuilding and commercial development would lead to loss of habitat and increase the risk of human-caused mortality of wildlife.
I oppose the Forest Service’s proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule because rescinding the Roadless Rule would increase the risk of wildfire, harm wildlife and wildlife habitat, and harm the public’s ability to recreate, hunt, fish, and fully enjoy the multiple uses of roadless public lands.
I urge the Forest Service to follow established science and the will of the people by retaining the Roadless Rule.