I am writing to oppose rescission of the Roadless Rule. As an avid outdoor hiker and angler, I appreciate the solitude and peace of the undeveloped backcountry. Roadless areas are significant for multiple reasons:
1. Provide pristine waters for fishing and provide clean drinking water for millions of Americans.
2. Provide protection for critical wildlife habitat and safe migratory corridors, uninterrupted by roads.
3. There is currently a $10.8 billion maintenance backlog for the current road system; adding more roads will only make this worse.
4. America’s roadless areas are some of the most beautiful backcountry in the world.
5. Fires are 4 times more likely to start within 1/4 mile of a road; we do not need more wildfires with climate change worsening.
6. I love Olympic National Forest and do not want to see it logged.
7. Old growth forest stores incredible amounts of carbon.
I ask that the FS follow the no action alternative in the current DEIS.