These comments were submitted by The Wildlife Society (TWS) in response to a proposed rule by the U.S. Forest Service to rescind the 2001 Roadless Areas Conservation Rule (“Roadless Rule”). The Roadless Rule identifies and protects Inventoried Roadless Areas in the National Forest System from road construction and logging. TWS opposes the proposed rescission of the Roadless Rule, stating that the proposal:
- Fails to demonstrate that rescission is necessary to achieve stated management
objectives, - Creates significant implementation concerns for an already resource-constrained agency, and
- Could lead to irreversible impacts on wildlife populations and their habitats.
