I strongly support keeping roadless areas roadless and oppose the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. I urge the USDA Forest Service to retain the rule and its protections against road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting in inventoried roadless areas.
Our remaining undeveloped forests deserve lasting protection. I value these places for their clean water, wildlife habitat, natural beauty, and opportunities to experience quiet and solitude. Their value extends beyond what can be extracted from them, and future generations deserve the opportunity to enjoy them.
The proposal acknowledges that expanding road access could increase human-caused wildfire ignitions and diminish opportunities for quiet, remote recreation. It also identifies an existing multibillion-dollar road and bridge maintenance backlog. These concerns weigh against opening additional areas to road construction and taking on further maintenance obligations.
I support responsible forest management and efforts to protect communities from wildfire. However, the existing rule includes limited exceptions, and the agency should demonstrate why those provisions cannot address specific needs before removing protections nationwide. Any necessary changes should be narrowly tailored and supported by evidence.
Local knowledge and public participation are important, but they should operate within a durable national conservation standard. Individual project reviews cannot substitute for protecting roadless landscapes from the cumulative effects of development over time.
Please retain the 2001 Roadless Rule and fully account for the long-term value of intact forests, clean water, wildlife habitat, and undeveloped recreation in your decision. Keeping roadless areas roadless is a commitment to responsible stewardship of public lands that belong to all of us.