[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 51 (Wednesday, April 14, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        AMERICA'S WILDERNESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES V. HANSEN

                                of utah

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 14, 1999

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, today I have introduced ``America's 
Wilderness Protection Act.'' As many know, I have been an advocate of 
wilderness for many years. For example, I have introduced legislation 
to designate wilderness in the beautiful red rock areas of Southern 
Utah in each of the last several Congresses. I was also instrumental in 
the passage of the Utah Forest Service Wilderness Act of 1984 a bill 
that designated almost a million acres of Wilderness in the State of 
Utah.
  As a wilderness advocate I have become increasingly concerned about a 
particular issue that makes wilderness legislation extremely difficult 
to pass. The issue I refer to is wilderness studies.
  The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 created something 
called a ``Wilderness Study Area.'' Lands that became Wilderness Study 
Areas pursuant to FLPMA were studied by the Interior Department to 
determine whether they qualified for Wilderness designation.
  Unfortunately, FLPMA failed to provide for the release of Wilderness 
Study Areas. Thus Wilderness Study Areas, absent Congressional action, 
would be studied in perpetuity--even after the actual study, done by 
the Interior Department, was finished.
  The perpetual study of an area for wilderness suitability is clearly 
not in the public interest:
  The biggest problem is that it hinders the designation of wilderness. 
Because Wilderness Study Areas are managed almost as if they were 
already wilderness, there is no incentive to make the sometimes 
politically difficult decisions to actually make them wilderness. Also, 
because the Interior Department's wilderness studies invariably decide 
that certain parts of Wilderness Study Areas do not qualify for 
wilderness, fringe environmental groups often oppose any resolution to 
the issue, preferring perpetual Wilderness Study Area status over 
actual wilderness designation.
  We need to reach a conclusion on this issue. Areas that qualify as 
wilderness should be designated as wilderness, and areas that don't 
should be released.
  This bill would protect millions of acres of Wilderness throughout 
the country by directing that wilderness studies be completed within 
ten years. It would force Congress to decide the issue and finally 
designate wilderness.
  I urge my colleagues to co-sponsor and support ``America's Wilderness 
Protection Act'' and protect America's wilderness.

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