Send a Strong Message for River Stewardship Today!
Thanks to a massive letter writing campaign and public outcry, the Bush Administration extended its comment period on its proposal to repeal the landmark Roadles Area Conservation Rule – otherwise known as the Roadless Rule. The Roadless Rule protects what is left of our public roadless lands from logging, mining, and other development, and keeps these lands suitable for future Wilderness designation.
Roadless lands support a vast number of rare, threatened, and endangered species, and also provide high quality water for drinking and recreation. These lands are treasure troves for backcountry recreationists such as paddlers, anglers, hikers, hunters, and skiers. Without the protection of the Roadless Rule, many of these lands will be roaded and used for corporate resource extraction, and the potential for wilderness designation and protection will be gone forever.
There are very few roadless areas left – but those areas are disproportionately critical for the maintenance and recovery of our wildest species, and for the enjoyment of the millions of Americans that treasure wild rivers, solitude, and our American Wilderness.
If you have not yet written a letter or email to the US Forest Service in support of the Roadless Rule and in opposition of the current administration’s attempts to repeal it – DO IT NOW! The deadline is November 15th – and every comment counts. It is more important than ever to send a strong message that Americans take pride in their wild lands and rivers, and want them protected.
FYI – The Roadless Rule does not call for the closure of any existing roads – merely a moratorium on building new ones into large intact areas currently lacking roads.
SEND A COMMENT TODAY
Send an email to statepetitionroadless@fs.fed.us.
Send a letter to: Content Analysis Team, ATTN: Roadless State Petitions, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 221090, Salt Lake City, UT 84122
Handwritten, substantive comment letters are always the best, but send your comment in whatever way you have time for. Make it personal, because this is a personal issue. Simply cut and paste the sample comment letter below into an email or MS Word, and fill in your personal thoughts and opinions:
For more background check out:
http://roadless.fs.fed.us/documents/id_07/2004_07_12_state_petition_proposed_rule.html
SAMPLE LETTER:
Content Analysis Team,
Attn: Roadless State Petitions
USDA Forest Service
P.O. Box 221090,
Salt Lake City, UT 84122
Dear Forest Service Chief Bosworth,
Please accept this letter as official public comment for the roadless area management state petition proposal [Docket Number: 04-16191].
I strongly oppose this proposal to repeal the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The Roadless Rule is a balanced policy that was finalized after years of scientific study, 600 public hearings and a record number of public comments, the majority of which overwhelmingly support protecting roadless areas through the rule.
The Roadless Rule is a vital tool for protecting our national forests from harmful and costly road-building and commercial logging. Our national forests need real protections because of the important role they play in providing fish and wildlife habitat, clean drinking water for millions of Americans, and endless recreational opportunities.
[Add paragraph of personal information here]
I urge you to abandon this misguided proposal and keep the Roadless Area Conservation Rule intact in the Lower 48 states and Alaska’s Chugach National Forest and reinstate the rule in the Tongass National Forest.
Thank you for consideration of my comments on this crucial national forest conservation issue.
Sincerely,
Name
Street Address
City, State ZIP