Public paper · October 4, 2026 · Forest desk
Roadless Area Conservation: USDA Extends Public Comment on Proposed Rescission of the 2001 Roadless Rule Through October 6
Forest Service / USDA extended the comment period on the proposed rule to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule to October 6, 2026. Docket FS-2025-0001 / RIN 0596-AD66. Comments also cover the associated draft EIS and cost-benefit analysis.
noticenearby.com/papers/roadless-area-conservation-comment-extension-oct-6.pdf
The U.S. Department of Agriculture published a Federal Register notice on September 11, 2026 extending the public comment period on the proposed rule titled Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation. The proposed rule would rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule by removing and reserving 36 CFR part 294, subpart B.
The original comment period on the August 20, 2026 proposal (91 FR 53827) was set to close September 21, 2026. USDA extended that window by 15 days.
Comment clock
- New comment deadline: October 6, 2026.
- RIN: 0596-AD66.
- Preferred electronic path: regulations.gov, docket FS-2025-0001 or RIN 0596-AD66.
- Mail: Director, Ecosystem Management Coordination, 201 14th Street SW, Mailstop 1108, Washington, DC 20250-1124.
The notice of proposed rulemaking invited comment on the proposed rule, the associated draft environmental impact statement, and the cost benefit analysis.
What a roadless rule change would mean in plain language
The 2001 Roadless Rule generally limited road construction and timber harvest in Inventoried Roadless Areas on National Forest System lands. Rescinding that national rule would return more of those decisions to local forest plans and project-level NEPA — it would not, by itself, approve any specific timber sale. Neighbors who care about national forests, community forestry, or road access still need to track both this national rulemaking and local Forest Service projects.
This paper does not predict whether USDA will finalize a rescission. It explains the comment clock that is still open.
How to comment usefully
USDA asks that comments stay on issues pertinent to the proposed rule, explain recommended changes, and reference specific section wording where possible. Timely comments become part of the public record on regulations.gov.
Sources
- Federal Register (Sept. 11, 2026), Document 2026-18648, 91 FR 57841: Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation — comment period extension to October 6, 2026. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/11/2026-18648/special-areas-roadless-area-conservation
- Original proposed rule (Aug. 20, 2026), 91 FR 53827, as cited in the extension notice.
- regulations.gov docket FS-2025-0001 / RIN 0596-AD66.
Not legal advice. Not a newspaper. Not Legal Publication. Record of Sale, LLC (Oregon).
Notes and sources
- Author: Ryan Standley / Record of Sale, LLC / Notice Nearby.
- Discussed on @NoticeNearYou: (pending — fill xPostUrl after live post).
- Not legal advice. Not a newspaper. Not Legal Publication. Record of Sale, LLC (Oregon).
Forest desk · Notice Nearby public papers shelf. @NoticeNearYou post pending.
Not legal advice. Not a newspaper. Not Legal Publication. Record of Sale, LLC (Oregon).