FS-2025-0001-604617

To the U.S. Forest Service: I am writing to express my strong opposition to any efforts to rescind, weaken, or roll back the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. As an avid user and advocate for our nation’s public lands, I rely heavily on the protection and integrity of our inventoried roadless areas. I frequently visit Linville Gorge, Wilson Creek, and Harper Creek near my home in Boone, North Carolina, and protecting these unfragmented landscapes is deeply personal to me. I depend on these watersheds for clean drinking water from my private well. My work in local government is also connected to tourism, which benefits from the beautiful, relatively untouched natural landscapes that make our region special. Beyond my work and daily life, I hike and fish on backcountry trails and value the pristine wildlife habitat that these roadless areas provide. These lands are more than places to visit. They are essential watersheds, wildlife habitat, recreational resources, and an important part of the character and economy of our communities. Once roadless landscapes are fragmented, their ecological and recreational values can be difficult or impossible to restore. I urge the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to abandon any proposed rescission or weakening of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule and instead maintain full protections for all currently designated inventoried roadless areas. Thank you for the opportunity to provide public comment and for considering the perspective of those who live, work, and recreate in and around these public lands. Sincerely, Cory Cathcart Boone, NC