FS-2025-0001-599944

Submit your public comment against the repeal of the Roadless Rule. You can use the following comment: I am firmly against USDA's proposal to revoke the 2001 Roadless Rule. Roadless national forests represent some of the last untouched public forest landscapes. They safeguard clean drinking water, wildlife habitats, salmon streams, old-growth forests, outdoor recreation areas, and essential places for communities, Tribal Nations, and future generations. Once roads, logging, and industrial activities fragment these areas, the harm cannot simply be reversed. USDA should maintain this national protection that has shielded roadless forests for over 20 years. The existing Roadless Rule permits necessary work to mitigate wildfire risks, so repealing it is unnecessary for community safety. In fact, adding more roads could lead to increased human ignition risks, habitat fragmentation, erosion, and long-term management costs. I am also concerned that rescinding the rule would delegate protection decisions to local forest planning processes, making intact forests more susceptible to political pressure and short-term exploitation. Public forests should be managed for clean water, biodiversity, climate resilience, Indigenous stewardship, and public benefit, not subjected to more roadbuilding and logging. Please withdraw the proposed repeal, uphold the 2001 Roadless Rule, and choose the strongest option to protect roadless areas throughout the National Forest System. Thank you for considering my comment.