LAST CHANCE TO RESCIND THE ROADLESS RULE
Everyone who values responsible access and healthy National Forests should comment. Utah Public Lands Alliance supports rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule and returning management decisions to local forest planning.
Comments are due tomorrow, Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Take a few minutes today to explain why responsible access and forest management matter to you.
Who Should Comment?
OHV riders, hunters, anglers, campers, older adults, people with disabilities, trail volunteers, rural businesses, and residents concerned about wildfire all have valuable perspectives to share. You do not need to be a policy expert—your experience matters.
What Should You Mention?
Choose the points that matter to you and explain them in your own words:
- Access for everyone: Describe how roads help you, your family, or someone with limited mobility enjoy National Forests.
- Local decisions: Explain why forest managers should evaluate local conditions, community needs, and appropriate access through forest planning.
- Forest health and wildfire: Support practical access for appropriate thinning, restoration, hazardous-fuel reduction, and firefighting.
- Responsible recreation: Describe how you use forest roads for hunting, fishing, camping, sightseeing, or OHV recreation.
- Stewardship: Share examples of trail maintenance, cleanup, education, or restoration work you or your club have contributed.
- Responsible implementation: Ask for protection of wildlife and watersheds, public involvement, and realistic road-maintenance plans.
Make your comment personal. Name a forest or place you know, explain why it matters, and describe how management decisions affect you. You do not need to address every point.
Rescission would not automatically open closed routes or authorize new roads. Future access and projects would still require applicable planning and approvals.
More Information to Help You Comment
- Read UPLA’s detailed Roadless Rule article — background on rescission, local forest planning, wildfire, and responsible public access.
- Read UPLA’s September 2025 USDA comments — our detailed 23-page submission addressing local forest planning, wildfire, public access, recreation, and responsible management.
- Get a sample template that can help you write your comments — You can copy and paste this template and add your own comments in the highlighted areas.
Use these resources to help explain your position, then add your own experiences and reasons for supporting rescission.
Please take a few minutes today to speak up for responsible access and forest management.