Hi John,

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, aka the Roadless Rule, which protects millions of acres of National Forest System lands from new road construction and limits timber harvesting in inventoried roadless areas.

The USDA's main rationale for rescinding the rule is wildfire risk, but a 2020 Forest Service study concluded, after nearly 20 years of monitoring data, that more roads do not lead to better forest health through increased fire-management activity.

ASBN urges the Forest Service to maintain the Roadless Rule and invites businesses across our network and beyond to weigh in.

Sign-ons to ASBN's comment are due Oct. 6 by 5 PM ET, and individual comments are due Oct. 6 before midnight ET.

Two Ways to Take Action

1. Add your name to ASBN’s comment.

ASBN’s comment makes the business case for maintaining the Roadless Rule, including the economic value of public lands, clean water, outdoor recreation, rural economies, and the long-term costs of new infrastructure. Signer and business names will be included in the public filing.

2. Submit your own comment directly to the Forest Service.
Individual comments put firsthand experience directly into the federal rulemaking record. An outfitter in Colorado, a fishing lodge in Alaska, and a brewery that depends on clean mountain water each have their own stake in how public lands are managed.

We’ve put together a short guide with background, a sample comment, and tips for making it your own.

We're requesting that you do both. Adding your name shows collective business support, and every individual comment is reviewed and becomes part of the official record, adding volume and firsthand detail.

Why This Matters to Businesses

Businesses have planned around this rule for 25 years. Rescinding it replaces a stable national standard with forest-by-forest decisions.

Roadless areas are already providing economic value through outdoor recreation and tourism, hunting and fishing, clean water, fisheries, rural businesses, and natural infrastructure that helps communities manage risks like flooding and wildfire.

Gateway-community businesses, outdoor brands, and hospitality companies rely on the character of intact, pristine natural landscapes. Rural economies built around those landscapes also attract remote workers and talent.

At the same time, new roads and infrastructure can create long-term obligations for taxpayers, including maintenance, repair, and restoration. The Forest Service should consider the full economic picture, including the value these lands already provide and the costs and risks associated with additional development.

Comments are due October 6, 2026.

Thank you for bringing the business voice into this public process.

ASBN, through our 501(c)(3) ASBI, is a nonprofit partner of 1% for the Planet. Donate to support more campaigns like this one → It's tax-deductible, and every contribution helps us amplify the collective voice of business.