Public comment closes Oct. 6 on the national Roadless Rule

The U.S. Forest Service is taking public comments on a proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The comment period closes Monday, October 6, at 8:59 p.m. Pacific time.

What it is: The 2001 rule restricts road construction and timber harvest in "inventoried roadless areas" on about 44.7 million acres of National Forest land. The proposal would return those decisions to Forest-level land management planning, closer to the local level.

Why it matters here: Much of Baker County is National Forest land, and this ties directly into the forest plan comments many of you have already made.

How to comment: Go to the official comment page below and write in your own words. The Forest Service asks that comments explain your reasons and, where you can, point to the part of the proposal you are addressing. A comment about how this affects you, your work, or your community counts for more than a single line.

Please note: comments are public. Your name and anything you write will be posted in the public record, so leave out personal information you don't want shared.

Official comment page: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FS-2025-0001-342438