[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 15 (Tuesday, February 2, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S440-S441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEVIN:
  S. 2976. A bill to designate as wilderness certain land and inland 
water within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in the State of 
Michigan, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.

[[Page S441]]

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, today I am introducing with Senator 
Stabenow the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and 
Recreation Act, which would permanently protect 32,557 acres within the 
extraordinarily beautiful Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 
located in the Michigan counties of Leelanau and Benzie. This 
legislation reflects the 2008 National Park Service wilderness 
proposal, which was the result of a lengthy public process beginning in 
2006, and culminating in broad public support for the proposal. The 
wilderness designation improves upon a 1981 recommendation by ensuring 
that access to recreational areas is provided while protecting lands in 
their natural condition.
  While there currently are no areas in the Lakeshore formally 
designated as wilderness, the National Park Service has been managing 
30,903 acres as wilderness since 1982, when an amendment to the park's 
enabling legislation required the Park Service to manage land 
recommended as wilderness in 1981 in this manner ``until Congress 
determines otherwise.'' The legislation I am introducing today would 
modify somewhat which areas would be managed as wilderness to ensure 
visitors continue to have access to these lands. The bill specifically 
excludes developed county roads and State highways from the wilderness 
area such that access is not impeded for recreation and other purposes. 
Several areas for boat launching and historic structures have also been 
excluded from the wilderness designation. Even with these exclusions, 
the overall acreage that would be designated as wilderness is slightly 
more than the area currently managed as wilderness because Sleeping 
Bear Plateau would be protected. Importantly, the wilderness 
designation would still allow hunting and fishing, trail-use, and 
camping at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Also, motor boats 
would still be allowed in Lake Michigan, and boaters would be allowed 
to beach their craft on beaches adjacent to the wilderness area.
  The bill was carefully crafted to ensure that the wilderness 
designation would apply only to areas currently undeveloped and 
possessing natural characteristics and values. There are five areas 
that would be designated as wilderness by this legislation. Most of 
North and South Manitou Islands would be designated as wilderness, with 
some exclusions for boat launching, roads, and historic structures. 
Wilderness would also be designated in the north, central, and southern 
parts of the Lakeshore on the mainland. In the mainland areas there are 
also exclusions for roads and recreational and historic features.
  The dramatic dunes, sandy beaches, steep bluffs, forests, inland 
lakes, agricultural lands, and historic structures of Sleeping Bear 
Dunes National Lakeshore embody the rich natural and cultural history 
of Michigan. This wilderness designation would ensure that current and 
future generations will be able to enjoy solitude and recreation in 
these treasured areas. Even as the Sleeping Bear dunes are ever-
changing as they are sculpted by the wind, it is critical that we 
protect these and other natural assets from being altered by 
development. I hope we can have prompt consideration of this bill by 
the Senate.
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