AGENCY:

Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA or Department) is extending the public comment period for the proposed rule titled Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation, published in the Federal Register on August 20, 2026 (91 FR 53827). The notice of proposed rulemaking invited public comment on the proposed rule, the associated draft environmental impact statement, and cost benefit analysis, which were published simultaneously. The original comment period is scheduled to close on September 21, 2026. The Department is extending the comment period by 15 days to allow the public additional time to submit comments. The new deadline for comments is October 6, 2026.

DATES:

Comments on the proposed rule published August 20, 2026 (91 FR 53827), must be received by October 6, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Comments, identified by RIN 0596-AD66, should be sent via one of the following methods:

• Electronically (preferred): Through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, www.regulations.gov, identified by docket number FS-2025-0001 or RIN 0596-AD66. Follow the instructions for sending comments; or
• Mail: Hardcopy letters must be submitted to the Director, Ecosystem Management Coordination, 201 14th Street SW, Mailstop 1108, Washington, DC 20250-1124.

Comments should be confined to issues pertinent to the proposed rule, should explain the reasons for any recommended changes, and should reference the specific section and wording being addressed, where ( printed page 57842) possible. All timely comments, including names and addresses when provided, will be placed in the record and will be available for public inspection and copying. Comments may be viewed on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. In the search box, enter “RIN 0596-AD66” and click the “Search” button. For this reason, please do not include in your comments information of a confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information or proprietary information. If you send an email comment, your email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available for public viewing. Please note that if your comment includes a standard confidentiality disclaimer—like the automatic notices added to some emails—we will still treat your comment as public and may make it available for anyone to read. A summary of this rule may be found through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Joshua White, Acting Director, Ecosystem Management Coordination, at the following phone number: 202-205-0650. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may call 711 to reach the Telecommunications Relay Service and provide the phone number of the person named as a point of contact for further information.