I strongly oppose the proposal to rescind or partially rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. As a concerned Environmental Scientist from Indiana, roadless areas like the Hoosier National Forest are important to me for preservation of water quality and wildlife habitat.
Roadless areas provide clean drinking water for millions of Americans, critical wildlife habitat for threatened species, carbon sequestration, preservation of sacred sites, and recreational opportunities. Roadless areas are also crucial for wildfire prevention, expanding roads into forests would increase wildlife risk. Research has shown that wildfires are four times more likely to start near roads due to human-caused ignitions such as sparks from vehicles or unattended campfires.
For the reasons listed above, I strongly oppose the proposal to rescind or partially rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. I support Alternative 1, the No Action alternative.