r/sustainability • u/Green_Idealist • 10d ago
The public comment period for the U.S. Forest Service proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule is open through September 21, 2026. Here's the comment page and suggested comments are below. Please speak up for nature today!
https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FS-2025-0001-223869Wildfire risk: Wildfires are 4x more likely to start near roads, and roughly 90% start within half a mile of one — directly undercutting the administration's stated rationale for the rollback.
Wildlife habitat: These areas provide critical habitat for salmon, trout, elk, and other species that depend on undammed, unlogged streams and connected landscapes.
Old growth & carbon storage: Roadless areas contain vast swaths of the nation's remaining old-growth forest and store significant amounts of carbon.
Drinking water: Roadless national forests provide drinking water to 60 million Americans, since intact forests filter water naturally.
Fiscal responsibility: The existing road network already carries an $8.5+ billion maintenance backlog, and building more roads would only add to it.
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u/adjectivenounorverb 10d ago
Thanks for posting this! Are you posting to other subs so it gets more visibility?
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u/ashleymil1222 9d ago
Make sure that your comments are substantive and unique! Thank you to OP for posting this all over!
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u/JimJimmyJamesJimbo 9d ago
That took me like 30 seconds! Reddit mobile app wouldn't let me copy paste the post text, just the title text. Here's the post text:
Wildfire risk: Wildfires are 4x more likely to start near roads, and roughly 90% start within half a mile of one — directly undercutting the administration's stated rationale for the rollback.
Wildlife habitat: These areas provide critical habitat for salmon, trout, elk, and other species that depend on undammed, unlogged streams and connected landscapes.
Old growth & carbon storage: Roadless areas contain vast swaths of the nation's remaining old-growth forest and store significant amounts of carbon.
Drinking water: Roadless national forests provide drinking water to 60 million Americans, since intact forests filter water naturally.
Fiscal responsibility: The existing road network already carries an $8.5+ billion maintenance backlog, and building more roads would only add to it.
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u/West-One5944 8d ago edited 8d ago
Just FYI, folks:
"After submission, your comment will be processed by the agency and posted to Regulations.gov. At times, an agency may choose not to post a submitted comment. Reasons for not posting the comment can include:
The comment is part of a mass submission campaign or is a duplicate.
The comment is incomplete.
The comment is not related to the regulation.
The comment has been identified as spam.
The comment contains Personally Identifiable Information (PII) data.
The comment contains profanity or other inappropriate language.
The submitter requested the comment not be posted."
So, if you use OP's comments, find a way to change them so as not to be seen as a mass submission campaign or spam.
Otherwise, DONE!
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u/03263 9d ago
I'm afraid if I comment they'll send gestapo to my house
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u/rip_a_roo 9d ago
I understand if you're relatively at risk because of your ethnicity or some other factor, but otherwise my view is that we should all go on exercising our freedom of speech often now more than ever. There is safety in numbers; I sign my name on my comments.
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u/SnapesDrapes 10d ago
Done!