The public has until Oct. 6 to make its views known on a U.S. Forest Service proposal to repeal a federal rule that allowed the setting aside of national forest lands as roadless.
More than 350,000 acres of national forest in Southern Arizona would be open to road building for the first time in 25 years under a Trump Administration proposal to repeal an earlier rule that led to the ban on new roads in 44 million acres nationwide.
Supporters of the repeal say what's known as the roadless rule is outdated and unresponsive to changing forest conditions.
Opponents are concerned it will lead to widespread grading of what is now untrammeled wildlife habitat, much of which plays host to endangered and threatened species including jaguars, ocelots, Mexican spotted owls and Chiricahua leopard frogs.
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Supporters of the rule change say it will give federal officials more flexibility in preventing and fighting wildfires, while opponents say opening up more national forest lands to roadbuilding will increase those fires.
There are two ways to submit public comments:
1. Electronically (preferred): To make a comment, go to www.regulations.gov/commenton/FS-2025-0001-342438
2. Snailmail: Hard copy letters must be mailed to the Director, Ecosystem Management Coordination, 201 14th St. SW, Mailstop 1108, Washington, DC 20250-1124.
Contact Tony Davis at 520-349-0350 or tdavis@tucson.com. Follow Davis on Twitter@tonydavis987.
Tony Davis
Reporter
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