GYC Supporters Send 31,000 Comments to USDA in Support of the Roadless Rule

In just 45 days, Greater Yellowstone Coalition advocates sent 31,561 public comments from all 50 states urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to keep the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This overwhelming response to keep our backcountry public lands intact shows just how important roadless areas are to people across the country. Thank you to everyone who wrote a comment and made your voice heard. 

A year ago, the USDA proposed to eliminate the Roadless Rule, which has protected backcountry forests and the wildlife that live in them for a generation. This month the federal government’s final public comment period closed which is part of its process to decide whether to keep or eliminate the rule. In all, at least 1.6 million comments were submitted to the USDA. 

People from across Greater Yellowstone and the country wrote more than 1.2 million comments on the Roadless Rule in the last 45 days. Read quotes from a handful of our advocates’ hand-written postcards.

The Greater Yellowstone Coalition also hosted 19 in-person comment writing parties in communities across Greater Yellowstone. More than 500 handwritten postcards were packaged and mailed to the USDA – 10.5 pounds of love for our public lands. Thank you to everyone who showed up and spoke up, it was great to meet so many new faces and connect with old friends. 

The Roadless Rule protects more than 45 million acres of wild, pristine forest lands. These lands are the source of our drinking water, home to iconic wildlife, and the heart of our outdoor recreation heritage. These forests have remained intact because of the U.S. Forest Service's nearly 25-year commitment to protect these wild places from industrial development like large-scale commercial logging, oil-and-gas drilling, and associated road building.  

The USDA will review the submitted public comments and work toward a final decision in the coming year. It's unclear when we will see a final decision – our team will keep an eye out and share the news and next steps when it breaks.

Make sure you're signed up for our emails to receive these updates!

Thank you to everyone who spoke up for the Roadless Rule. Efforts like these show that when we work together, we're greater.  

—Emilie Ritter, Director of Communications and Marketing [Helena, MT]