I am writing because I oppose the USDA's proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule I live near the Olympic National Forest
and we use our national forest as a place to gather mushrooms, hike, and camp. But more than any recreational purpose, the forest is the place that protects my water source, the salmon in our rivers, and that keeps our air clean.
I have seen the effects of roads and commercial logging on WA Department of Natural Resource and commercial timberland in our area. Logging does some damage, but it is often the roads that cause the most damage. They leave devestation in their wake.
The benefits of the Roadless Rule include:
* The protection of watersheds for current and future generations.
* Biodiversity: countless plant, animal, and fungal species
* fire prevention (since most fires start near existing roads)
* food gathering: hunters, anglers, and foragers benefit from food produced by healthy forests
* recreation and tourism: spending time in intact forests feeds our souls and nourishes our mental and physical health.
Repealing the roadless rule would do irrevocable harm to wild lands that are our greatest national treasure.
Protecting our public lands and keeping forests healthy keeps us healthy.
I urge the USDA to listen to the public and keep the Roadless Rule fully intact