Enforce the Roadless Rule for National Forests

Dear Michael Johanns,

I urge you to instruct the USDA Forest Service to fulfill its duty as the caretaker of our public forests, and enforce the protections of America's last unprotected wild forests intended by the Roadless Area Conservation Rule of 2001.

America's last road-free national forests belong to all of us. They are simply too important -- as sources of clean water for 60 million Americans and as pristine habitat for fish and wildlife -- to be opened up to more road-building, oil, gas and mineral development, and logging.

The Roadless Area Conservation Rule was the product of a massive public involvement process that included more than 600 public meetings and generated more than 1.6 million comments from the American people -- 95% of which supported a strong nationwide policy protecting all National Forest Roadless Areas. This strong public support has continued ever since; and in March 2006 over 265,000 Americans formally petitioned you under the Administrative Procedures Act to reinstate the 2001 Roadless Rule.

More Americans supported the Roadless Rule than any other federal rule in U.S. history. I am writing to add my voice to those who have already called on you to protect the clean water, undisturbed wildlife habitat, and backcountry recreational opportunities provided by our few remaining road-free national forest areas.

Therefore, I urge you, as the steward of the National Forest System, entrusted with the responsibility to act on behalf of the long-range interests of our nation and all of its people -- not just for the short-term gain of special interests -- to honor and enforce the protections envisioned by Roadless Area Conservation Rule of 2001 for the 58.5 million acres of inventoried roadless areas in our National Forest System.

Sincerely,

[your name]
[your address]