[Nssha] NFH Public Comment on Rescinding Roadless Rule

[mgbrattland at gerlecreek.com]

From: nfhnews at nationalforesthomeowners.org <nfhnews at nationalforesthomeowners.org> 
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2025 11:00 AM



 


			
	


			
	


			
	
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September 2025

Public Comments
Rescinding the Roadless Rule

	
			
	
			

			
	


			
	
On 8/29/25, the Forest Service posted in the Federal Register their intent to initiate an Environmental Impact Study to cover rescinding the Roadless Rule. NFH has submitted a formal public comment opposing elimination of the Roadless Rule. Read our comment by clicking the button below.

We researched the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule and contemplated the likely impact to cabin owners of the action to rescind the rule. While NFH always considers any public lands issue from the perspective of the program nationwide, in this situation, location matters. Idaho and Colorado have state Roadless Rules so this action by the Forest Service would have no impact. 

However, for recreation residences in other areas, the designation of roadless areas in adjacent forest lands or in close proximity may have positive and negative impacts. On the Santa Fe National Forest, for example, one cabin tract is surrounded by inventoried Roadless Area. Before the law, there was a known effort to conduct mining that would deteriorate the watershed around the cabins. After the 2001 enactment of the Roadless Rule, the mining proposal was dropped. Those cabin owners fear that removing the Roadless Rule will bring back the mining project.

Rescinding the Roadless Rule may have little or no impact on those tracts that are not near roadless areas. NFH advises that each of you consider this proposal from your personal perspective, including the impacts for your cabin and your experience of the forest around your cabin. 

You can use this  <https://458rl1jp.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fwww.arcgis.com%2Fapps%2Fmapviewer%2Findex.html%3Furl=https:%2F%2Fapps.fs.usda.gov%2FArcX%2Frest%2Fservices%2FEDW%2FEDW_InventoriedRoadlessAreas2001_01%2FMapServer%26source=sd/1/0100019939ef6556-385428b9-8151-43aa-b3d8-792bac53faf8-000000/dTICr4bSY-OvnfzXVzAgItHNvUw=443> map of the 54 million acres of “inventoried” Roadless Areas that will no longer be protected from development projects, increased timber harvesting, and mining. Zoom in to locate your cabin area and see what proximity you may have to areas impacted.

To submit your own comments, the deadline is Friday, September 19. Use the Federal eRulemaking Portal, <https://458rl1jp.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fwww.regulations.gov%2F/1/0100019939ef6556-385428b9-8151-43aa-b3d8-792bac53faf8-000000/wYUC0BN4U4J4k9yZ3L3cTBt7Q8U=443>   <https://458rl1jp.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fwww.regulations.gov%2Fsearch%3Ffilter=FS-2025-0001/1/0100019939ef6556-385428b9-8151-43aa-b3d8-792bac53faf8-000000/AZE-7ah1FdDslmgMC7VzIx6_peQ=443> https://www.regulations.gov/search?filter=FS-2025-0001 to submit your comments. There is a button to “Comment”, a button to Open Comments, and a link to read the full notice.

On a personal note, NFH had the honor to host Jim Furnish as our keynote speaker at the NFH 2024 Virtual Conference before he passed away early this year. As Deputy Chief of the Forest Service in the early 2000's, Jim oversaw the enactment of the Roadless Rule which has been one of the most impactful conservation laws for habitats and watersheds.

	
			
	
			

			
	

 <https://458rl1jp.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fwww.nationalforesthomeowners.org%2Fresource%2Fresmgr%2Fforest_service%2Fusfs_roadless_rule_public_co.pdf/1/0100019939ef6556-385428b9-8151-43aa-b3d8-792bac53faf8-000000/lU3_XMRRvPRSxGaGoMl5dCa18uY=443> Read Comments 

	
			

			
	


			
	
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