Comment on FR Doc # N/A

I strongly oppose any proposal to reduce, weaken, circumvent, or abolish existing federal protection for BLM designated wilderness areas. This proposal is an example of the Trump administration's horrible pattern of working to reverse decades worth of hard fought progress on public lands, endangered species, environmental quality, and other issues. I am outraged and appalled by these corrupt and arbitrary reversals that only serve Trump's wealthy donors, corporate interests, and right wing extremists. The climate (see attachment) and extinction crises are already deadly serious and rapidly getting worse. The science is compelling that bold and innovative solutions are urgently needed. BLM should be aggressively working to identify and implement these solutions with meaningful public involvement. Instead, BLM appears to be moving backward at this critical time. Wilderness areas, WSAs, and lands with wilderness characteristics help to respond to these crises by protecting trees and vegetation that store atmospheric carbon and by providing healthy, undisturbed ecosystems that sustain native biodiversity. Incompatible human uses, structures, and artificial materials do not belong in these areas and should always be prohibited. I have hiked and explored on wild public lands in many states. These wild lands are sacred to me. They provide a critically important refuge and escape from the sights, sounds, and commotion that comes from human development virtually everywhere else. Please respect and fully protect wilderness areas, WSAs, and lands with wilderness characteristics. Thank you very much for your kind consideration.