The Roadless Area Conservation Rule should not be repealed. I live in Bishop, California within sight of several roadless areas and I frequently recreate in them. Wildfire prevention and suppression are not valid reasons for a repeal. The vast majority of wildland fires are actually started by humans near roads. Adding more roads will likely increase the frequency of fires in this important ecological and recreational reserves. The Forest Service already has the authority to access these areas and new road construction will cause more damage and add to a growing unfunded maintenance backlog.
I live near the Pacific Crest Trail, through-hiked the trail in 1988 and use portions of it every year. About 288 miles of the PCT passes near or through lands that would be affected by a repeal. Aside from being a wonderful recreational experience for thousands if not millions per year, the PCT also brings visitors to rural America and powers a large outdoor recreation economy. I know that it is very important in my area of the Eastern Sierra of California and Nevada.
There will be no major increase in logging employment as many mills and logging operations have ceased to exist in the rural West. This proposed repeal will damage an important environmental resource and source of recreational employment without commensurate economic gains. Do not repeal the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.