To the U.S. Forest Service

Please be mindful of pushing the balance in forest use to preservation of roadless areas and watersheds.  Please consider the following points:

-While I recognize the need for access to natural gas resources, there are compelling reasons to preserve certain lands as sacrosanct and unassailable in perpetuity.  Further, there is no reason why oil and gas operators should not be made to hold the highest standards of production and by this I refer to minimization of all pollution sources including air pollution(now being increasingly recognized as a serious health and greenhouse gas issue).

-All roadless areas should be maintained as entirely unavailable for leasing.

-I have reviewed the alternatives in the leasing plans and fully support Alternative B.

-The Thompson Divide, a jewel in Western Colorado should never be made available for gas leasing. 

Thanks for considering my comments.  Please do the right thing.  Preserve my forests for the duration.

Mitchell Gershten MD
15426 Fire Mtn
Paonia, CO 81428