The Boat Company Submits Public Comment Letter on the Roadless Rule Repeal Proposal
A shared commitment to preserving the Tongass for generations to come
This fall, The Boat Company submitted a comprehensive comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in response to the proposed repeal of the federal Roadless Rule — a policy that protects 44.7 million acres of National Forests across the United States, including much of the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska.
The letter was written by The Boat Company’s environmental attorney Paul Olson, reflecting our organization’s long-standing mission: to ensure that the wild places we explore remain healthy, resilient, and accessible for future generations.
What’s Happening
The USDA recently proposed changes that would roll back roadless protections across vast areas of the Tongass — a step that could open critical watersheds and intact old-growth forest to new industrial development.
While the public comment window has now closed, the process is ongoing, and thousands of voices across the country spoke up. In total, the proposed repeal drew 625,931 public comments on regulations.gov — a powerful reminder of how deeply people care about this rare and irreplaceable ecosystem.
Why the Tongass matters
The Tongass is sometimes called “America’s climate forest.”
It is:
One of the largest remaining temperate rainforests on Earth
A vital carbon sink slowing the effects of climate change
A nursery for salmon populations that feed wildlife and coastal communities
Home to Indigenous cultures whose stewardship spans millennia
A refuge where travelers discover connection, stillness, and awe
This landscape is more than beautiful scenery — it is living heritage.
What we said in our filing
Paul Olson’s 23-page comment letter outlines why the Roadless Rule remains essential. In plain language, it emphasizes that:
The forest’s value extends beyond extractive economics
Old-growth stands are irreplaceable within a lifetime
Tourism and recreation depend on intact habitat
Road expansion fragments wildlife corridors and watershed health
Climate resilience declines when old growth is lost
“The Tongass is not simply a resource — it is a system of relationships that sustains itself and us.”
The filing reaffirms that conservation and community prosperity are not opposing goals — they are intertwined.
What you did — and why it mattered
This was not our voice alone.
Hundreds of The Boat Company guests, supporters, and friends:
Added their names to our comment letter
Submitted independent comments directly to the USDA
Shared the campaign with others who care about Alaska
Your actions became part of a nationwide effort to ensure that the wild character of Southeast Alaska endures.
For that, we are deeply grateful.
Where the process goes from here
The public comment period is complete, and now federal agencies will:
Review public submissions
Prepare the final rule or environmental review documents
Provide further opportunity for judicial or administrative review, if necessary
We will continue to track developments closely, and update our supporters as the next steps unfold.
Our continued commitment
The Boat Company has been part of Southeast Alaska for more than four decades. Through hands-on stewardship, responsible tourism, and advocacy rooted in science, we remain dedicated to:
Healthy forests
Thriving marine ecosystems
Community-driven conservation
Our work is grounded in one simple belief:
If people have the chance to experience the Tongass — they will want to protect it.
Thank you for standing with Alaska
Whether you sailed with us, signed your name, shared a post, or simply held this place in your heart — you were part of it.
Together, we’re helping ensure that the Tongass remains wild, alive, and protected for generations to come.