Need to protect our roadless lands

I am one of the 25 million Americans who have written letters and attended meetings on the Roadless Rule. Over 600 public hearings were held across the nation on the Roadless Rule. Thirty-one of these meetings were held in Montana. Of the comments received by the Department of Agriculture, 95 percent supported adoptions of the Roadless Rule.

I have been working for protection of the roadless areas of the Whitefish and Galton Ranges for years. I have hiked and hunted these wild mountains — Tuchuck, Thompson Seton, Nasukoin, Deep and Krinklehorn, to name a few — for 20 years.

I urge Gov. Schweitzer to please help reestablish the Roadless Rule as the law of the land. It really is quite simple. Montanans and Americans want protection for our roadless lands.

Edwin M. Fields

Whitefish