The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to start allowing road construction and industrial development in parts of our national forests that have thus far been protected.
The agency announced last month that they intend to do away with the 2001 Roadless Rule, which prohibits road building on millions of acres of undeveloped land.
Wyoming has more than 3 million acres of “Roadless Areas,” which account for some of the state’s most remote, ecologically valuable lands. Allowing roads to be built in these landscapes could increase wildfire risk, jeopardize wildlife migrations, and make it harder to get away from the hustle and bustle of civilization. Plus, the Forest Service already has a massive backlog of deferred maintenance on existing roads, which would only be exacerbated by new road construction.
SPEAK UP NOW!
The USDA is accepting public comments on the rule change until Sept. 19. Fill out the form below to weigh in.
We’ve provided a template, but please personalize it as much as you want — the important thing is to share why YOU care about roadless areas.
We value roadless area. Please do not rescind the Roadless Rule. Leave these areas free of roads for our grandchildren
I am completely opposed to getting rid of the 2001 Roadless Rule. I spend most of my time in national forests, especially Bridger-Teton. I have enjoyed many aspects of multiple use, including my family using forest service leases to graze 5 herds of sheep, the use of a cabin built as one of the original 99 year leases, cross country skiing on trails near my home, mountain biking in many national forests, and hiking and photographing the infinite beauty of these natural places.
We currently have a balance of accessible by road areas and areas that are not. Given the activities listed above, I use roads to get to areas that then are then accessible only by bike, horse, or legs. If these areas were suddenly developed with roads, they would fill up with motors, noise, bad air, and a complete destruction of the solitude and peace and quiet that brings most of us to these beautiful places.
Grazing leases would be destroyed by access and much of our organic meat is reared in these now pristine areas. A multitude of people would destroy the ability of wildlife to rear their young safely and migrate on the corridors they have been using for thousands of years.
We are already facing a future of out of control fires devastating our forests; add a bunch more people and vehicles to this already dangerous situation, and we will need a much larger fire fighting force and budget, which is already stretched to its limits.
The Roadless Rule must be maintained.
Please do not change our Wyoming roadless rule. We need to protect our lands from more wildfires! Some areas are worth save Fr commercial and individual development
Please keep these places wild!
Allowing roads to be built in roadless areas is a horrible idea. This ill-fated action will increase wildfire risk, jeopardize wildlife breeding and annual migrations, and make it harder to get away from the hustle and bustle of civilization. The Forest Service already has a massive backlog of deferred maintenance on existing roads, which would only be exacerbated by new road construction.
Dear USDA,
Please do not rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule – we need undisturbed forest and range lands. I’ve seen first hand what happens to wildlands when people are allowed even regulated access and we cannot afford that level of destruction.
Thank you,