Federal Lands: Information on Land Owned and on Acreage With Conservation
Restrictions (Fact Sheet, 01/30/95, GAO/RCED-95-73FS).

During fiscal years 1964-93, the amount of federal land managed by the
Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife
Service, and the National Park Service decreased by 77 million acres,
from about 700 million acres to about 623 million acres.  However, the
decrease is skewed because of two unique land transfers in Alaska--the
transfer of about 76 million acres of federal land to the state of
Alaska in accordance with the Alaska Statehood Act of 1958 and the
transfer of about 36 million acres to native Alaskans in accordance with
the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. Excluding these two
large land transfers, the amount of land managed by the four agencies
actually increased by 34 million acres.  During the same 29-year period,
the number of acres managed by the four agencies that were set aside for
conservation purposes increased from about 51 million acres at the end
of fiscal year 1964 to about 271 million acres at the end of fiscal year
1993.  GAO summarized this report in testimony before Congress; see:
Federal Lands: Information on Land Owned and on Acreage With
Conservation Restrictions, by John H. Anderson, Jr., Associate Director
for Natural Resources Management Issues, before the House Committee on
Resources.  GAO/T-RCED-95-117, Mar. 2, 1995 (11 pages).

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  RCED-95-73FS
     TITLE:  Federal Lands: Information on Land Owned and on Acreage 
             With Conservation Restrictions
      DATE:  01/30/95
   SUBJECT:  Land management
             National forests
             National parks
             Forest conservation
             Water resources conservation
             Wilderness areas
             Wildlife conservation
             Land transfers
             Real property acquisition
             Public lands
IDENTIFIER:  Alaska
             Mojave National Preserve (CA)
             Death Valley National Park (CA)
             Joshua Tree National Park (CA)
             National Wild and Scenic River System
             
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Cover
================================================================ COVER


Fact Sheet for Congressional Requesters

January 1995

FEDERAL LANDS - INFORMATION ON
LAND OWNED AND ON ACREAGE WITH
CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS

GAO/RCED-95-73FS

Federal Lands and Conservation Restrictions

(140699)


Abbreviations
=============================================================== ABBREV

  BLM - Bureau of Land Management
  FWS - Fish and Wildlife Service
  GAO - General Accounting Office
  NPS - National Park Service

Letter
=============================================================== LETTER


B-259705

January 30, 1995

The Honorable Don Young
Chairman, Committee on
 Resources
House of Representatives

The Honorable Richard Pombo
House of Representatives

The federal government owns about 650 million acres, about 30 percent
of the nation's total surface area.\1 Four federal land management
agencies--the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and the
Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish
and Wildlife Service (FWS), and National Park Service (NPS)--are
responsible for managing about 95 percent of this federally owned
land; the Department of Defense manages most of the remainder.  These
four agencies managed a total of about 623 million acres as of
September 30, 1993, or over 27 percent of the approximately 2.3
billion acres in the United States.  In addition, over the past 30
years, the Congress has enacted a number of laws to protect natural
resources on federal, state, and private lands.  Among other things,
these laws affect what can be done on these lands in connection with
the air, water, soils, plants, and animals.  In addition, the use of
some federal lands is encumbered for conservation purposes by
legislative or administrative restrictions.\2

Concerned about trends in the amount of land owned by the federal
government and in the regulation of private property, you requested
that we, among other things, review the trends in federal land
ownership and regulation of private land.  As agreed with your
offices, this fact sheet identifies over the 29-year period from June
30, 1964, through September 30, 1993, the changes in the amount of
federally owned land (1) managed by the four major federal land
management agencies and (2) encumbered for conservation purposes by
legislative or administrative restrictions. 

As agreed with your offices, we plan to issue a more comprehensive
report later this year that will address the (1) reasons for the
changes in federal land ownership, (2) methods used by the federal
government to acquire land, and (3) amount of private land under the
regulatory control of the federal government. 

In summary, from the end of fiscal year 1964 through fiscal year
1993, the overall amount of federal land managed by the four major
federal land management agencies decreased from about 701 million
acres to about 623 million acres, an overall reduction of over 77
million acres, or about 11 percent.  Although an overall decrease
occurred during this 29-year period, the amount of land managed by
the four agencies increased in 46 states and the District of Columbia
by almost 21 million acres and decreased in 4 states by over 97
million acres, of which about 96 million acres were in Alaska. 
Furthermore, the overall decrease is skewed because of two unique
situations in Alaska that resulted in the transfer of about 112
million acres of BLM land.  The two situations involved the transfer
of (1) about 76 million acres to the state of Alaska in accordance
with the Alaska Statehood Act of 1958, as amended (Public Law
85-508), and (2) about 36 million acres to Native Alaskans in
accordance with the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, as
amended (43 U.S.C.  1601, et seq.). 

Excluding these two large land transfers, the overall amount of land
managed by the four agencies actually increased by about 34 million
acres over the 29-year period, including an increase of about 16
million acres in Alaska.  Three of the agencies had increases in the
amount of federal land that they managed--the Forest Service's
increase was about 5 million acres, FWS' increase was about 65
million acres, and NPS' increase was about 49 million acres.  These
increases were the result of (1) land transfers from BLM for the
purposes of expanding existing, or creating new, national forests,
wildlife refuges, and parks in Alaska and (2) new land acquisitions. 
BLM had a decrease of about 85 million acres, primarily because of
transfers of BLM land to other federal agencies such as FWS and NPS. 
At the end of fiscal year 1993, the four agencies managed over 50
percent of the land in five states and over 25 percent of the land in
an additional seven states. 

Since fiscal year 1993, the amount of land managed by the four
agencies has continued to increase as a result of the expansion of
existing, or creation of new, national forests, wildlife refuges, and
parks.  For example, the agencies acquired about 203,000 acres in
fiscal year 1994.  Of this amount, the Forest Service acquired about
72,000 acres, BLM about 27,000 acres, FWS about 82,000 acres, and NPS
about 22,000 acres. 

The amount of the four agencies' land encumbered for conservation
purposes by legislative or administrative restrictions increased from
about 51 million acres (about 7 percent of the agencies' total
acreage) in fiscal year 1964, to about 131 million acres (nearly 19
percent of the agencies' total acreage) in fiscal year 1979, and to
about 271 million acres (almost 44 percent of the agencies' total
acreage) in fiscal year 1993.  Since fiscal year 1993, the Congress
has set aside additional acreage for conservation purposes by
designating additional wilderness areas and creating new national
parks.  For example, the California Desert Protection Act of 1994
(Public Law 103-433) designated about 7.7 million additional acres of
BLM, NPS, and Forest Service lands as wilderness and created three
new national parks from BLM land. 

Section 1 discusses the overall trends in land managed by the four
federal land management agencies from the end of fiscal year 1964
through fiscal year 1993 and then shows this information by state and
by agency.  Section 2 shows, as of September 30, 1993, the agencies'
total acreage in each state, the acreage managed by the four agencies
in each state, and the percentage of total acreage that is managed by
the four agencies.  Section 3 contains information, as of September
30, 1993, about the number of acres managed in each state by the four
agencies and the amount and percentage of that acreage encumbered for
conservation purposes by legislative or administrative restrictions. 
It also contains information about the types of legislative or
administrative restrictions that have been directed toward specific
portions of Forest Service and BLM lands.  We did not gather this
information for FWS and NPS lands because the two agencies' lands
are, generally, established entirely for conservation purposes. 


--------------------
\1 As of September 30, 1991, which is the latest available nationwide
information. 

\2 Land encumbered for conservation purposes includes, among other
things, land set aside for national parks, national wildlife refuges,
wilderness and wilderness study areas, and wild and scenic rivers as
well as areas of critical environmental concern. 


   SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
------------------------------------------------------------ Letter :1

We obtained and reviewed documents and other data from the four
agencies covered by our review for the lands they manage.  We also
obtained computerized data files on the lands managed, which we input
into our own data base for analysis purposes.  We also included in
our data base, data from printed reports obtained from the agencies. 
As agreed with your offices, we did not verify the completeness,
accuracy, and reliability of the data maintained in the agencies'
data bases.  Such a verification would require a significant
investment of time and resources because of the immense volume of
data contained in the data bases.  We did, however, take steps to
reconcile inconsistencies in the data contained in the agencies'
computerized data files and their printed reports.  We interviewed
senior-level land management officials at each of these agencies'
headquarters as well as at selected field locations.  Our review was
conducted between June and December 1994. 

As requested, we did not obtain written comments from the agencies
included in our review.  We did, however, discuss the data included
in this fact sheet with officials of the Department of Agriculture,
including the Assistant Director of the Forest Service's Lands Staff,
and the Department of the Interior, including BLM's Assistant
Division Chief for Lands and FWS and NPS realty and land resources
specialists, who agreed with the accuracy of the information. 
Several technical clarifications were offered by these officials,
which have been incorporated where appropriate. 

As requested, unless you publicly announce its contents earlier, we
plan no further distribution of this fact sheet until 30 days from
the date of this letter.  At that time, we will make copies available
to the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior; the Chief of the
Forest Service; the Directors of BLM, FWS, and NPS; the Director,
Office of Management and Budget; interested congressional committees
and Members of Congress; and other interested parties.  We will also
provide copies to others upon request.  Please call me at (202)
512-7756 if you or your staff have any questions about this fact
sheet.  Major contributors to this fact sheet are listed in appendix
I. 

James Duffus III
Director, Natural Resources
 Management Issues


TRENDS IN LAND MANAGED BY FOUR
FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES
FROM THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 1964
THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 1993
============================================================ Chapter 1

From June 30, 1964, through September 30, 1993, the overall amount of
land managed by the four major federal land management agencies--the
Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and the Department of the
Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service
(FWS), and National Park Service (NPS)--decreased from about 701
million acres to about 623 million acres, an overall reduction of
over 77 million acres, or about 11 percent.  Although an overall
decrease occurred during this 29-year period, the amount of land
managed by the four agencies increased in 46 states and the District
of Columbia by almost 21 million acres and decreased in 4 states by
over 97 million acres. 

Most of the 97-million-acre decrease--about 96 million acres--
occurred in Alaska.  The overall decrease is skewed, however, because
of two unique situations in Alaska that resulted in the transfer of
about 112 million acres of BLM land.  The two situations involved the
transfer of (1) about 76 million acres to the state of Alaska in
accordance with the Alaska Statehood Act of 1958, as amended (Public
Law 85-508), and (2) about 36 million acres to Native Alaskans in
accordance with the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, as
amended (43 U.S.C.  1601, et seq.).  Excluding these two large land
transfers, the overall amount of land managed by the four agencies
actually increased by about 34 million acres over the 29-year period,
including an increase of about 16 million acres in Alaska.  Table 1.1
shows the comparison of acreage managed by the four federal agencies
in fiscal years 1964 and 1993, both including and excluding the
effects of the two major BLM land transfers in Alaska. 



                                    Table 1.1
                     
                       Comparison of Acreage Managed by the
                     Four Federal Agencies, Fiscal Years 1964
                                     and 1993


                                                                         Acreage
                                                                          change
                                                                       excluding
                                                                       two major
                                                           Acreage        Alaska
Agency                                1964        1993      change   transfers\a
-----------------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ------------
Forest Service                 186,274,576  191,525,37   5,250,801     5,250,801
                                                     7
Bureau of Land Management      464,346,607  267,640,28  (196,706,3  (85,006,321)
                                                     6        21)\
Fish and Wildlife Service       22,396,317  87,375,963  64,979,646    64,979,646
National Park Service           27,500,745  76,571,878  49,071,133    49,071,133
================================================================================
Total                          700,518,245  623,113,50  (77,404,74    34,295,259
                                                     4          1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note:  Numbers shown in parentheses indicate a decrease. 

\a This column excludes two large and unique BLM land transfers of
about 112 million acres in Alaska that took place between fiscal
years 1964 and 1993 because these transfers skew the overall data. 

Source:  GAO's analysis of data from the Departments of Agriculture
and the Interior. 

Over the 29-year period, the Forest Service, FWS, and NPS each had
increases in the amount of federal land that they managed.  These
increases--over 5 million acres for the Forest Service, nearly 65
million acres for FWS, and about 49 million acres for NPS--were the
result of (1) land transferred from BLM for the purposes of enlarging
existing, or creating new, national forests, wildlife refuges, and
parks in Alaska and (2) new land acquisitions.  BLM-managed land
decreased by nearly 197 million acres during the period, primarily
because of the transfers of its land to FWS and NPS, to the state of
Alaska, and to Native Alaskans. 

The major transfers of land from BLM to FWS occurred in 1979 and 1980
when about 12 million acres and about 37 million acres were
transferred, respectively, for the purpose of expanding the national
wildlife refuge system.  The major transfer of land from BLM to NPS
occurred in 1979 when about 41 million acres were transferred for the
purpose of expanding existing, or creating new, national parks,
monuments, and preserves.  Under the Alaska Statehood Act of 1958,
the state of Alaska was authorized to select almost 104 million acres
from BLM's acreage.  Through the end of fiscal year 1993, about 87
million of these acres (about 76 million acres between fiscal years
1964 and 1993) had been transferred from BLM to the state of Alaska. 
Under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, about 40
million acres were set aside for Native Alaskans; about 36 million
acres had been transferred from BLM to Native Alaskans by the end of
fiscal year 1993.  Figure 1.1 shows in 5-year increments from fiscal
year 1964 through fiscal year 1993 the changes in acreage managed by
the four agencies. 

   Figure 1.1:  Changes in Acreage
   of Land Managed by the Four
   Federal Agencies, Fiscal Years
   1964-93

   (See figure in printed
   edition.)

Since fiscal year 1993, the amount of land managed by the four
agencies has continued to increase as a result of the expansion of
existing, or creation of new, national forests, wildlife refuges, and
parks.  For example, the agencies were authorized to acquire about
203,000 acres in fiscal year 1994.  Of this amount, the Forest
Service acquired about 72,000 acres, BLM about 27,000 acres, FWS
about 82,000 acres, and NPS about 22,000 acres.  In addition, under
the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-433),
BLM transferred about 3 million acres to NPS for the establishment of
the newly created Mojave National Preserve, Death Valley National
Park, and Joshua Tree National Park. 

Table 1.2 shows, by state, the changes in the amount of acreage
managed by the four agencies in fiscal years 1964 and 1993.  Tables
1.3 through 1.6 show, by state, the changes in the amount of acreage
managed by the Forest Service, BLM, FWS, and NPS, respectively. 



                                    Table 1.2
                     
                       Total Acreage of Land Managed by the
                     Four Federal Agencies, by State, Fiscal
                               Years 1964 and 1993


State\a                             1964                1993      Acreage change
--------------------  ------------------  ------------------  ------------------
Alabama                          651,729             798,465             146,736
Alaska                       335,715,092         239,509,874        (96,205,218)
Arizona                       26,926,251          29,867,616           2,941,365
Arkansas                       2,557,313           3,219,380             662,067
California                    40,142,169          42,987,699           2,845,530
Colorado                      23,229,253          23,437,010             207,758
Connecticut                          972               6,692               5,720
Delaware                          15,193              23,968               8,775
District of Columbia               6,910               6,926                  16
Florida                        2,719,077           3,836,610           1,117,533
Georgia                        1,199,609           1,391,611             192,002
Hawaii                           241,133             528,732             287,599
Idaho                         32,733,251          32,437,746           (295,505)
Illinois                         262,238             339,475              77,237
Indiana                          129,283             212,275              82,992
Iowa                              27,762              39,996              12,234
Kansas                           123,522             135,772              12,249
Kentucky                         585,039             778,815             193,776
Louisiana                        830,538           1,363,174             532,636
Maine                            114,656             168,516              53,860
Maryland                          60,571              97,906              37,334
Massachusetts                     45,306              65,184              19,878
Michigan                       3,285,726           3,729,649             443,923
Minnesota                      3,119,091           3,626,258             507,167
Mississippi                    1,217,851           1,498,890             281,039
Missouri                       1,424,117           1,600,992             176,876
Montana                       26,078,794          26,745,613             666,819
Nebraska                         486,960             527,205              40,246
Nevada                        53,123,054          56,845,790           3,722,736
New Hampshire                    679,930             735,068              55,138
New Jersey                        32,052             103,369              71,317
New Mexico                    23,250,166          22,920,318           (329,848)
New York                          46,524              86,258              39,735
N. Carolina                    1,569,062           2,003,825             434,763
N. Dakota                      1,477,827           1,694,152             216,324
Ohio                             122,080             251,460             129,380
Oklahoma                         388,081             410,556              22,475
Oregon                        31,699,972          32,104,965             404,992
Pennsylvania                     499,941             588,636              88,695
Rhode Island                          26               1,497               1,471
S. Carolina                      728,177             741,651              13,474
S. Dakota                      2,453,947           2,636,447             182,500
Tennessee                        859,258           1,019,636             160,378
Texas                          1,746,392           2,299,264             552,872
Utah                          33,025,449          32,446,350           (579,099)
Vermont                          239,238             364,391             125,153
Virginia                       1,759,711           2,088,739             329,028
Washington                    11,293,883          11,598,462             304,578
West Virginia                    913,949           1,083,988             170,039
Wisconsin                      1,710,038           2,003,012             292,974
Wyoming                       28,970,082          30,103,622           1,133,541
================================================================================
Total                        700,518,245         623,113,504        (77,404,741)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1:  Numbers shown in parentheses indicate a decrease. 

Note 2:  Acreage changes and totals may not add due to rounding. 

\a For our analysis, we included the District of Columbia as a state. 

Source:  GAO's analysis of data provided by the Departments of
Agriculture and the Interior. 




                                    Table 1.3
                     
                       Total Acreage of Land Managed by the
                      Forest Service, by State, Fiscal Years
                                  1964 and 1993


State\a                            1964                1993       Acreage change
-------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------------
Alabama                         631,542             661,309               29,767
Alaska                       20,741,964          22,124,288            1,382,324
Arizona                      11,410,808          11,247,052            (163,756)
Arkansas                      2,423,425           2,540,103              116,678
California                   19,970,522          20,621,894              651,372
Colorado                     14,330,694          14,471,811              141,117
Connecticut                           0                  24                   24
Delaware                              0                   0                    0
District of                           0                   0                    0
 Columbia
Florida                       1,075,089           1,136,796               61,707
Georgia                         786,784             863,980               77,196
Hawaii                                0                   1                    1
Idaho                        20,345,861          20,442,914               97,053
Illinois                        211,554             270,760               59,206
Indiana                         125,890             191,593               65,703
Iowa                                360                   0                (360)
Kansas                          107,114             108,175                1,061
Kentucky                        460,693             682,679              221,986
Louisiana                       591,637             602,090               10,453
Maine                            50,023              53,040                3,017
Maryland                              0                   0                    0
Massachusetts                     1,651                   0              (1,651)
Michigan                      2,579,834           2,852,172              272,338
Minnesota                     2,770,352           2,820,193               49,841
Mississippi                   1,134,006           1,153,507               19,501
Missouri                      1,372,081           1,487,022              114,941
Montana                      16,637,813          16,847,192              209,379
Nebraska                        339,716             351,973               12,257
Nevada                        5,058,500           5,805,929              747,429
New Hampshire                   678,104             722,753               44,649
New Jersey                            0                   0                    0
New Mexico                    9,086,505           9,323,059              236,554
New York                         13,747              13,446                (301)
N. Carolina                   1,125,196           1,239,318              114,122
N. Dakota                     1,104,850           1,105,789                  939
Ohio                            110,852             217,942              107,090
Oklahoma                        271,403             301,448               30,045
Oregon                       15,465,016          15,660,825              195,809
Pennsylvania                    471,620             513,170               41,550
Rhode Island                          0                   0                    0
S. Carolina                     587,164             610,682               23,518
S. Dakota                     1,988,290           2,011,604               23,314
Tennessee                       598,837             628,590               29,753
Texas                           775,296             754,843             (20,453)
Utah                          7,946,494           8,108,302              161,808
Vermont                         232,469             350,294              117,825
Virginia                      1,453,853           1,649,524              195,671
Washington                    9,688,321           9,167,362            (520,959)
West Virginia                   905,647           1,032,121              126,474
Wisconsin                     1,469,215           1,519,089               49,874
Wyoming                       9,143,784           9,258,719              114,935
================================================================================
Total                       186,274,576         191,525,377            5,250,801
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1:  Numbers shown in parentheses indicate a decrease. 

Note 2:  Acreage changes and totals may not add due to rounding. 

\a For our analysis, we included the District of Columbia as a state. 

Source:  GAO's analysis of data provided by the Department of
Agriculture. 




                                    Table 1.4
                     
                       Total Acreage of Land Managed by the
                       Bureau of Land Management, by State,
                            Fiscal Years 1964 and 1993


State\a                            1964                1993       Acreage change
-------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------------
Alabama                           1,971             110,963              108,992
Alaska                      288,541,188          88,860,328        (199,680,860)
Arizona                      13,034,217          14,255,889            1,221,672
Arkansas                          2,074             291,166              289,092
California                   15,616,779          17,284,258            1,667,479
Colorado                      8,311,968           8,309,082              (2,886)
Connecticut                           0                   0                    0
Delaware                              0                   0                    0
District of                           0                   0                    0
 Columbia
Florida                           1,423              25,277               23,854
Georgia                               0                   0                    0
Hawaii                                0                   0                    0
Idaho                        12,310,977          11,848,706            (462,271)
Illinois                              0                 227                  227
Indiana                               0                   0                    0
Iowa                                  0                 378                  378
Kansas                            1,297                   0              (1,297)
Kentucky                              0                   0                    0
Louisiana                         7,288             309,611              302,323
Maine                                 0                   0                    0
Maryland                              0                   0                    0
Massachusetts                         0                   0                    0
Michigan                          5,946              74,854               68,908
Minnesota                        40,732             150,104              109,372
Mississippi                       2,227              57,211               54,984
Missouri                            323               2,232                1,909
Montana                       8,262,282           8,076,362            (185,920)
Nebraska                          6,058               7,493                1,435
Nevada                       47,194,741          47,969,220              774,479
New Hampshire                         0                   0                    0
New Jersey                            0                   0                    0
New Mexico                   13,826,454          12,888,035            (938,419)
New York                              0                   0                    0
N. Carolina                           0                   0                    0
N. Dakota                        77,070              60,223             (16,847)
Ohio                                  0                   0                    0
Oklahoma                         29,124               2,338             (26,786)
Oregon                       15,617,181          15,722,868              105,687
Pennsylvania                          0                   0                    0
Rhode Island                          0                   0                    0
S. Carolina                           0                   0                    0
S. Dakota                       280,473             279,085              (1,388)
Tennessee                             0                   0                    0
Texas                                 0                   0                    0
Utah                         23,472,577          22,147,772          (1,324,805)
Vermont                               0                   0                    0
Virginia                              0                   0                    0
Washington                      259,170             351,753               92,583
West Virginia                         0                   0                    0
Wisconsin                           181             160,167              159,986
Wyoming                      17,442,886          18,394,684              951,798
================================================================================
Total                       464,346,607         267,640,286        (196,706,321)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1:  Numbers shown in parentheses indicate a decrease. 

Note 2:  Acreage changes and totals may not add due to rounding. 

\a For our analysis, we included the District of Columbia as a state. 

Source:  GAO's analysis of data provided by the Department of the
Interior. 




                                    Table 1.5
                     
                       Total Acreage of Land Managed by the
                       Fish and Wildlife Service, by State,
                            Fiscal Years 1964 and 1993


State\a                            1964                1993       Acreage change
-------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------------
Alabama                           9,047              14,692                5,645
Alaska                       18,634,685          76,321,744           57,687,059
Arizona                           6,977           1,672,499            1,665,522
Arkansas                        123,899             285,135              161,236
California                       58,188             238,780              180,592
Colorado                         19,937              63,910               43,973
Connecticut                           0                 342                  342
Delaware                         15,193              23,968                8,775
District of                           0                   0                    0
 Columbia
Florida                         106,955             240,662              133,707
Georgia                         377,787             470,064               92,278
Hawaii                            1,765             272,278              270,513
Idaho                            17,969              47,061               29,092
Illinois                         50,593              68,346               17,753
Indiana                             111               7,802                7,692
Iowa                             26,028              37,955               11,927
Kansas                           15,073              27,131               12,058
Kentucky                         61,438               2,040             (59,398)
Louisiana                       229,217             439,454              210,237
Maine                            22,701              44,319               21,618
Maryland                         19,425              39,306               19,881
Massachusetts                     8,117              12,127                4,009
Michigan                        102,045             112,940               10,895
Minnesota                       212,544             422,762              210,218
Mississippi                      56,980             185,521              128,542
Missouri                         39,392              45,619                6,227
Montana                         114,287             600,274              485,987
Nebraska                        138,813             162,183               23,370
Nevada                          222,612           2,292,739            2,070,127
New Hampshire                        40               3,042                3,002
New Jersey                       17,046              55,002               37,956
New Mexico                       85,600             326,581              240,981
New York                         12,690              23,602               10,912
N. Carolina                      96,549             395,700              299,151
N. Dakota                       225,457             455,788              230,331
Ohio                              2,669               7,772                5,103
Oklahoma                         79,654              96,891               17,237
Oregon                          451,015             525,901               74,886
Pennsylvania                      4,258               9,960                5,703
Rhode Island                         26               1,492                1,466
S. Carolina                     136,571             104,638             (31,933)
S. Dakota                        40,644             191,413              150,769
Tennessee                         1,958              44,891               42,933
Texas                           117,416             375,673              258,257
Utah                             97,303             100,156                2,853
Vermont                           4,252               5,928                1,675
Virginia                         16,685             117,449              100,764
Washington                      107,716             135,797               28,081
West Virginia                       215               1,708                1,493
Wisconsin                       166,650             188,179               21,530
Wyoming                          40,127              56,748               16,621
================================================================================
Total                        22,396,317          87,375,963           64,979,646
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1:  Numbers shown in parentheses indicate a decrease. 

Note 2:  Acreage changes and totals may not add due to rounding. 

\a For our analysis, we included the District of Columbia as a state. 

Source:  GAO's analysis of data provided by the Department of the
Interior. 




                                    Table 1.6
                     
                       Total Acreage of Land Managed by the
                     National Park Service, by State, Fiscal
                               Years 1964 and 1993


State\a                            1964                1993       Acreage change
-------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------------
Alabama                           9,169              11,501                2,332
Alaska                        7,797,255          52,203,513           44,406,259
Arizona                       2,474,249           2,692,176              217,927
Arkansas                          7,915             102,976               95,061
California                    4,496,680           4,842,767              346,087
Colorado                        566,654             592,207               25,553
Connecticut                         972               6,327                5,354
Delaware                              0                   0                    0
District of                       6,910               6,926                   16
 Columbia
Florida                       1,535,610           2,433,876              898,266
Georgia                          35,038              57,567               22,528
Hawaii                          239,368             256,453               17,085
Idaho                            58,444              99,065               40,621
Illinois                             91                 142                   51
Indiana                           3,283              12,880                9,597
Iowa                              1,374               1,663                  289
Kansas                               39                 466                  427
Kentucky                         62,909              94,097               31,188
Louisiana                         2,396              12,019                9,623
Maine                            41,932              71,158               29,225
Maryland                         41,146              58,600               17,454
Massachusetts                    35,537              53,057               17,520
Michigan                        597,901             689,683               91,782
Minnesota                        95,463             233,199              137,736
Mississippi                      24,638             102,651               78,012
Missouri                         12,321              66,120               53,799
Montana                       1,064,411           1,221,784              157,373
Nebraska                          2,373               5,556                3,183
Nevada                          647,201             777,902              130,701
New Hampshire                     1,786               9,273                7,487
New Jersey                       15,006              48,367               33,361
New Mexico                      251,607             382,643              131,037
New York                         20,087              49,210               29,123
N. Carolina                     347,317             368,807               21,490
N. Dakota                        70,450              72,351                1,902
Ohio                              8,560              25,746               17,187
Oklahoma                          7,901               9,880                1,979
Oregon                          166,760             195,371               28,611
Pennsylvania                     24,064              65,506               41,442
Rhode Island                          0                   5                    5
S. Carolina                       4,442              26,331               21,889
S. Dakota                       144,540             154,344                9,805
Tennessee                       258,463             346,155               87,692
Texas                           853,680           1,168,748              315,069
Utah                          1,509,075           2,090,120              581,045
Vermont                           2,517               8,169                5,652
Virginia                        289,173             321,766               32,593
Washington                    1,238,676           1,943,549              704,873
West Virginia                     8,087              50,158               42,072
Wisconsin                        73,992             135,577               61,585
Wyoming                       2,343,284           2,393,471               50,187
================================================================================
Total                        27,500,745          76,571,878           49,071,133
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1:  Numbers shown in parentheses indicate a decrease. 

Note 2:  Acreage changes and totals may not add due to rounding. 

\a For our analysis, we included the District of Columbia as a state. 

Source:  GAO's analysis of data provided by the Department of the
Interior. 


PERCENTAGE OF LAND IN EACH STATE
MANAGED BY FOUR FEDERAL LAND
MANAGEMENT AGENCIES
============================================================ Chapter 2

Of the nation's approximately 2.3 billion acres, the Forest Service,
BLM, FWS, and NPS managed about 623 million acres, or about 27
percent of the total acres as of the end of fiscal year 1993.  The
percentage of each state's total acreage that was managed by these
agencies varied widely--from less than 1 percent in Iowa to about 81
percent in Nevada.  The four agencies managed in excess of 50 percent
of the land in five states--Alaska (about 66 percent), Idaho (about
61 percent), Nevada (about 81 percent), Oregon (about 52 percent),
and Utah (about 62 percent).  As figure 2.1 shows, the agencies' land
holdings as of September 30, 1993, were in excess of 25 percent in 12
states, between 10 and 25 percent in 4 states and the District of
Columbia, between 5 and 10 percent in 8 states, between 2 and 5
percent in 11 states, and less than 2 percent in the remaining 15
states. 

   Figure 2.1:  Percentage of
   Federal Land in Each State
   Managed by the Four Federal
   Agencies, September 30, 1993

   (See figure in printed
   edition.)

The percentage of the land managed by the four agencies fell from
almost 31 percent of the nation's 2.3 billion acres in fiscal year
1964 to over 27 percent in fiscal year 1993.  Alaska accounted for
almost half of the 31 percent in fiscal year 1964 and more than
one-third of the 27 percent in fiscal year 1993.  Without Alaska, the
four agencies' land holdings accounted for about 16 and 17 percent in
fiscal years 1964 and 1993, respectively.  As figure 2.2 shows, in
fiscal years 1964 and 1993, 4 states had decreases in the percent of
federal land managed by the four agencies, 32 states and the District
of Columbia had increases of less than 1 percent, 7 had increases of
between 1 and 2 percent, 5 had increases between 2 and 5 percent, and
2 had increases in excess of 5 percent. 

   Figure 2.2:  Change in
   Percentage of Federal Land
   Managed by the Four Federal
   Agencies in Fiscal Years 1964
   and 1993

   (See figure in printed
   edition.)

Tables 2.1 and 2.2, which follow, show--as of September 30, 1993--the
percentage of acreage within each state that is managed by the four
federal land management agencies in total and the amount of acreage
within each state that is managed by each of the four agencies,
individually. 



                                    Table 2.1
                     
                        Percentage of Each State's Acreage
                     Managed by the Four Federal Agencies, as
                              of September 30, 1993

                                           Acres managed by
                                               four federal            Agencies'
State\a                     Total acres            agencies           percentage
-------------------  ------------------  ------------------  -------------------
Alabama                      32,678,400             798,465                 2.44
Alaska                      365,481,600         239,509,874                65.53
Arizona                      72,688,000          29,867,616                41.09
Arkansas                     33,599,360           3,219,380                 9.58
California                  100,206,720          42,987,699                42.90
Colorado                     66,485,760          23,437,010                35.25
Connecticut                   3,135,360               6,692                 0.21
Delaware                      1,265,920              23,968                 1.89
District of                      39,040               6,926                17.74
 Columbia
Florida                      34,721,280           3,836,610                11.05
Georgia                      37,295,360           1,391,611                 3.73
Hawaii                        4,105,600             528,732                12.88
Idaho                        52,933,120          32,437,746                61.28
Illinois                     35,795,200             339,475                 0.95
Indiana                      23,158,400             212,275                 0.92
Iowa                         35,860,480              39,996                 0.11
Kansas                       52,510,720             135,772                 0.26
Kentucky                     25,512,320             778,815                 3.05
Louisiana                    28,867,840           1,363,174                 4.72
Maine                        19,847,680             168,516                 0.85
Maryland                      6,319,360              97,906                 1.55
Massachusetts                 5,034,880              65,184                 1.29
Michigan                     36,492,160           3,729,649                10.22
Minnesota                    51,205,760           3,626,258                 7.08
Mississippi                  30,222,720           1,498,890                 4.96
Missouri                     44,248,320           1,600,992                 3.62
Montana                      93,271,040          26,745,613                28.68
Nebraska                     49,031,680             527,205                 1.08
Nevada                       70,264,320          56,845,790                80.90
New Hampshire                 5,768,960             735,068                12.74
New Jersey                    4,813,440             103,369                 2.15
New Mexico                   77,766,400          22,920,318                29.47
New York                     30,680,960              86,258                 0.28
N. Carolina                  31,402,880           2,003,825                 6.38
N. Dakota                    44,452,480           1,694,152                 3.81
Ohio                         26,222,080             251,460                 0.96
Oklahoma                     44,087,680             410,556                 0.93
Oregon                       61,598,720          32,104,965                52.12
Pennsylvania                 28,804,480             588,636                 2.04
Rhode Island                    677,120               1,497                 0.22
S. Carolina                  19,374,080             741,651                 3.83
S. Dakota                    48,881,920           2,636,447                 5.39
Tennessee                    26,727,680           1,019,636                 3.81
Texas                       168,217,600           2,299,264                 1.37
Utah                         52,696,960          32,446,350                61.57
Vermont                       5,936,640             364,391                 6.14
Virginia                     25,496,320           2,088,739                 8.19
Washington                   42,693,760          11,598,462                27.17
West Virginia                15,410,560           1,083,988                 7.03
Wisconsin                    35,011,200           2,003,012                 5.72
Wyoming                      62,343,040          30,103,622                48.29
================================================================================
Total                     2,271,343,360         623,113,504                27.43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note:  Acreage totals may not add due to rounding. 

\a For our analysis, we included the District of Columbia as a state. 

Source:  GAO's analysis of data provided by the Departments of
Agriculture and the Interior. 




                                    Table 2.2
                     
                       Acreage of Each State Managed by the
                      Four Federal Agencies, as of September
                                     30, 1993

                                   Bureau of    Fish and    National       Total
                          Forest        Land    Wildlife        Park     acreage
State\a                  Service  Management     Service     Service     managed
-------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Alabama                  661,309     110,963      14,692      11,501     798,465
Alaska                22,124,288  88,860,328  76,321,744  52,203,513  239,509,87
                                                                               4
Arizona               11,247,052  14,255,889   1,672,499   2,692,176  29,867,616
Arkansas               2,540,103     291,166     285,135     102,976   3,219,380
California            20,621,894  17,284,258     238,780   4,842,767  42,987,699
Colorado              14,471,811   8,309,082      63,910     592,207  23,437,010
Connecticut                   24           0         342       6,327       6,692
Delaware                       0           0      23,968           0      23,968
District of                    0           0           0       6,926       6,926
 Columbia
Florida                1,136,796      25,277     240,662   2,433,876   3,836,610
Georgia                  863,980           0     470,064      57,567   1,391,611
Hawaii                         1           0     272,278     256,453     528,732
Idaho                 20,442,914  11,848,706      47,061      99,065  32,437,746
Illinois                 270,760         227      68,346         142     339,475
Indiana                  191,593           0       7,802      12,880     212,275
Iowa                           0         378      37,955       1,663      39,996
Kansas                   108,175           0      27,131         466     135,772
Kentucky                 682,679           0       2,040      94,097     778,815
Louisiana                602,090     309,611     439,454      12,019   1,363,174
Maine                     53,040           0      44,319      71,158     168,516
Maryland                       0           0      39,306      58,600      97,906
Massachusetts                  0           0      12,127      53,057      65,184
Michigan               2,852,172      74,854     112,940     689,683   3,729,649
Minnesota              2,820,193     150,104     422,762     233,199   3,626,258
Mississippi            1,153,507      57,211     185,521     102,651   1,498,890
Missouri               1,487,022       2,232      45,619      66,120   1,600,992
Montana               16,847,192   8,076,362     600,274   1,221,784  26,745,613
Nebraska                 351,973       7,493     162,183       5,556     527,205
Nevada                 5,805,929  47,969,220   2,292,739     777,902  56,845,790
New Hampshire            722,753           0       3,042       9,273     735,068
New Jersey                     0           0      55,002      48,367     103,369
New Mexico             9,323,059  12,888,035     326,581     382,643  22,920,318
New York                  13,446           0      23,602      49,210      86,258
N. Carolina            1,239,318           0     395,700     368,807   2,003,825
N. Dakota              1,105,789      60,223     455,788      72,351   1,694,152
Ohio                     217,942           0       7,772      25,746     251,460
Oklahoma                 301,448       2,338      96,891       9,880     410,556
Oregon                15,660,825  15,722,868     525,901     195,371  32,104,965
Pennsylvania             513,170           0       9,960      65,506     588,636
Rhode Island                   0           0       1,492           5       1,497
S. Carolina              610,682           0     104,638      26,331     741,651
S. Dakota              2,011,604     279,085     191,413     154,344   2,636,447
Tennessee                628,590           0      44,891     346,155   1,019,636
Texas                    754,843           0     375,673   1,168,748   2,299,264
Utah                   8,108,302  22,147,772     100,156   2,090,120  32,446,350
Vermont                  350,294           0       5,928       8,169     364,391
Virginia               1,649,524           0     117,449     321,766   2,088,739
Washington             9,167,362     351,753     135,797   1,943,549  11,598,462
West Virginia          1,032,121           0       1,708      50,158   1,083,988
Wisconsin              1,519,089     160,167     188,179     135,577   2,003,012
Wyoming                9,258,719  18,394,684      56,748   2,393,471  30,103,622
================================================================================
Total                191,525,377  267,640,28  87,375,963  76,571,878  623,113,50
                                           6                                   4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note:  Acreage totals may not add due to rounding. 

\a For our analysis, we included the District of Columbia as a state. 

Source:  GAO's analysis of data provided by the Departments of
Agriculture and the Interior. 


FEDERALLY MANAGED LAND ENCUMBERED
FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES BY
LEGISLATIVE OR ADMINISTRATIVE
RESTRICTIONS
============================================================ Chapter 3

Over the 29-year period from June 30, 1964, through September 30,
1993, the amount of federal land managed by the Forest Service, BLM,
FWS, and NPS that had legislative or administrative restrictions
placed on its use for conservation purposes increased from about 51
million acres in fiscal year 1964, to about 131 million acres in
fiscal year 1979, and to about 271 million acres in fiscal year 1993. 
Of the 1964 acreage, FWS and NPS had about 50 million of the nearly
51 million acres, and the Forest Service and BLM had the remainder. 
The percentage of these four agencies' lands that had conservation
restrictions was about 7 percent in fiscal year 1964, nearly 19
percent in fiscal year 1979, and nearly 44 percent in fiscal year
1993.  The acreage with conservation restrictions may change in
future years as congressional decisions are made about the
designation of additional land for such things as wilderness and
national parks.  For example, the California Desert Protection Act of
1994 (Public Law 103-433) designated an additional 7.7 million acres
of BLM, NPS, and Forest Service lands as wilderness and created three
new parks from BLM land. 

All of the lands managed by FWS and NPS are generally considered to
be restricted for conservation purposes:  Both of these two agencies
had substantial increases in the amount of land they were responsible
for between fiscal years 1964 and 1993.  Generally, the Forest
Service and BLM do not restrict all lands for conservation purposes. 
Rather, they manage their lands for multiple uses to best meet the
present and future needs of the American people and to sustain, in
perpetuity, outputs of various renewable natural resource commodities
and to provide for other uses.  However, some Forest Service and BLM
lands have special or unique qualities that warrant protection
through restrictions that are placed on how the lands are to be
managed and used.  The portions of Forest Service and BLM lands that
have had legislative or administrative restrictions placed on their
use for conservation purposes increased from the end of fiscal year
1964 through fiscal year 1993.  Restrictions on such things as the
use of motorized equipment, construction of buildings and roads,
development of commercial enterprises, and landing of aircraft are
imposed at the time the land is legislatively or administratively set
aside for conservation purposes. 

Wilderness area designations are authorized by the Wilderness Act of
1964 (16 U.S.C.  1131).  As of September 30, 1993, 96 million acres
of Forest Service, BLM, FWS, and NPS land had been designated as
wilderness by the Congress.  Another 33 million acres had been
designated as wilderness study areas.  Until a decision has been made
by the Congress about which wilderness study areas should be named as
wilderness areas, these acres are protected for conservation purposes
and therefore are not available for other purposes, with certain
exceptions.  Wild and scenic river designations are made pursuant to
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, as amended (16 U.S.C.  1271
et seq.).  Since that time, over 1 million acres of federal lands
along rivers have been designated by the Congress as part of the
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 

The fact that land has a restriction that sets it aside for
conservation purposes does not preclude all activities within the
designated area.  For example, although the Wilderness Act restricts
access to, and the development of, a given wilderness area, the
"wilderness" designation generally allows, among other things, the
existence of administrative structures, the development of minerals
and the grazing of livestock in those instances where valid existing
rights have already been established, access to private lands inside
the wilderness, and use of nonmotorized recreational vehicles. 
Similar restrictions and allowances apply to wilderness study areas. 

A principal protection afforded by a wild and scenic river
designation is the prohibition of water resource projects that may
divert or hinder the flow of the river.  Road construction, hunting,
fishing, and mining and mineral leasing may be permitted under some
circumstances, depending on the classification of the river and
whether the activities are consistent with the values of the area
being protected and other federal and state laws. 

Most of the federal acreage with conservation restrictions is located
in 13 western states.  Figure 3.1 shows, as of September 30, 1993,
the percentage of land in each of these states managed by the Forest
Service, BLM, FWS, and NPS (as reflected in the shading of each
state) and the percentage of that land that is further restricted for
conservation purposes (as reflected by the number shown within each
state). 

   Figure 3.1:  Percentage of Four
   Agencies' Land in Western
   States and Percentage of That
   Land Restricted for
   Conservation Purposes, as of
   September 30, 1993

   (See figure in printed
   edition.)

Table 3.1 shows the total acreage managed by each of the four federal
agencies at the end of fiscal years 1964, 1979, and 1993 and the
total acreage with conservation restrictions.  Table 3.2 shows, by
state, the total acreage managed by the four federal agencies, the
amount of acreage with conservation restrictions, and the percentage
of acreage with conservation restrictions, as of September 30, 1993. 
Tables 3.3 and 3.4 show, respectively, the amount of Forest Service
and BLM acreage at the end of fiscal years 1964, 1979, and 1993 that
has been encumbered for conservation purposes, according to the type
of conservation restriction. 



                                    Table 3.1
                     
                        Acres Managed by the Four Federal
                           Agencies and Percentage With
                     Conservation Restrictions, Fiscal Years
                               1964, 1979, and 1993

                                   Bureau of    Fish and    National
                          Forest        Land    Wildlife        Park
                         Service  Management     Service     Service      Totals
-------------------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
1964
Total acreage        186,274,576  464,346,60  22,396,317  27,500,745  700,518,24
 managed                                   7                                   5
Conservation           1,435,909         628  22,396,317  27,500,745  51,333,599
 acreage
Percent with                0.77          \a      100.00      100.00        7.33
 conservation
 restrictions
1979
Total acreage        187,422,847  397,505,86  43,045,987  64,961,020  692,935,72
 managed                                   9                                   3
Conservation          22,911,081      74,513  43,045,987  64,961,020  130,992,60
 acreage                                                                       1
Percent with               12.22        0.02      100.00      100.00       18.90
 conservation
 restrictions
1993
Total acreage        191,525,377  267,640,28  87,375,963  76,571,878  623,113,50
 managed                                   6                                   4
Conservation          49,410,180  57,738,928  87,375,963  76,571,878  271,096,94
 acreage                                                                       9
Percent with               25.80       21.57      100.00      100.00       43.51
 conservation
 restrictions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a Percentage is miniscule. 

Source:  GAO's analysis of data provided by the Departments of
Agriculture and the Interior. 




                                    Table 3.2
                     
                        Acres Managed by the Four Federal
                           Agencies and Percentage With
                     Conservation Restrictions, by State, as
                              of September 30, 1993

                                                Acreage with  Percentage of land
                                                conservation   with conservation
State\a                  Acreage managed        restrictions        restrictions
--------------------  ------------------  ------------------  ------------------
Alabama                          798,465              69,068                8.65
Alaska                       239,509,874         150,786,769               62.96
Arizona                       29,867,616           8,471,260               28.36
Arkansas                       3,219,380             662,726               20.59
California                   42, 987,699          33,356,996               77.60
Colorado                      23,437,010           5,774,565               24.64
Connecticut                        6,692               6,669               99.66
Delaware                          23,968              23,968              100.00
District of Columbia               6,926               6,926              100.00
Florida                        3,836,610           2,846,197               74.19
Georgia                        1,391,611             699,239               50.25
Hawaii                           528,732             528,732              100.00
Idaho                         32,437,746           9,673,448               29.82
Illinois                         339,475              99,421               29.29
Indiana                          212,275              33,705               15.88
Iowa                              39,996              39,618               99.05
Kansas                           135,772              27,597               20.33
Kentucky                         778,815             138,407               17.77
Louisiana                      1,363,174             544,033               39.91
Maine                            168,516             127,477               75.65
Maryland                          97,906              97,906              100.00
Massachusetts                     65,184              65,184              100.00
Michigan                       3,729,649             917,658               24.60
Minnesota                      3,626,258           1,467,556               40.47
Mississippi                    1,498,890             300,676               20.06
Missouri                       1,600,992             181,204               11.32
Montana                       26,745,613           7,412,851               27.72
Nebraska                         527,205             182,833               34.68
Nevada                        56,845,790           9,532,809               16.77
New Hampshire                    735,068             117,242               15.95
New Jersey                       103,369             103,369              100.00
New Mexico                    22,920,318           4,105,287               17.91
New York                          86,258              72,812               84.41
N. Carolina                    2,003,825             995,353               49.67
N. Dakota                      1,694,152             528,891               31.22
Ohio                             251,460              33,595               13.36
Oklahoma                         410,556             147,291               35.88
Oregon                        32,104,965           7,096,777               22.10
Pennsylvania                     588,636             109,580               18.62
Rhode Island                       1,497               1,497              100.00
S. Carolina                      741,651             207,056               27.92
S. Dakota                      2,636,447             442,905               16.80
Tennessee                      1,019,636             468,411               45.94
Texas                          2,299,264           1,581,821               68.80
Utah                          32,446,350           7,402,687               22.82
Vermont                          364,391             110,208               30.24
Virginia                       2,088,739             676,222               32.37
Washington                    11,598,462           4,793,535               41.33
West Virginia                  1,083,988             190,641               17.59
Wisconsin                      2,003,012             369,411               18.44
Wyoming                       30,103,622           7,466,862               24.80
================================================================================
Total                        623,113,504         271,096,949               43.51
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note:  Acreage totals may not add due to rounding. 

\a For our analysis, we included the District of Columbia as a state. 

Source:  GAO's analysis of data provided by the Departments of
Agriculture and the Interior. 




                               Table 3.3
                
                   Acres of Forest Service Lands With
                Conservation Restrictions, Fiscal Years
                          1964, 1979, and 1993

Type of restriction                           1964      1979      1993
----------------------------------------  --------  --------  --------
Wilderness                                       0  15,083,9  34,583,8
                                                          75        33
Wilderness study area                            0  1,689,87  6,619,77
                                                           1         0
Wild and scenic river                            0   204,955   487,205
Area of critical environmental concern           0        0\        0\
Research natural area                       79,205   136,321   288,888
National conservation area                       0        0\        0\
National monument                                0        0\  3,404,24
                                                                     4
National primitive area                          0  2,810,24   173,762
                                                           2
National recreation area                         0  1,779,70  2,362,20
                                                           1         8
National game refuge                      1,356,70  1,202,08  1,218,95
                                                 4         4         3
National scenic-research area                    0     3,932     6,630
Other\a                                          0        0\   264,687
======================================================================
Total                                     1,435,90  22,911,0  49,410,1
                                                 9        81        80
----------------------------------------------------------------------
\a "Other" includes archeological areas, botanical areas, and
geological areas. 

Source:  GAO's analysis of data provided by the Department of
Agriculture. 



                               Table 3.4
                
                Acres of Bureau of Land Management Lands
                 With Conservation Restrictions, Fiscal
                       Years 1964, 1979, and 1993

Type of restriction                           1964      1979      1993
----------------------------------------  --------  --------  --------
Wilderness                                       0     1,738  1,653,52
                                                                     9
Wilderness study area                            0         0  26,554,6
                                                                    85
Wild, scenic, and recreation river               0    14,267   829,448
Area of critical environmental concern           0         0  9,534,45
                                                                     0
Research natural area                           28    38,068   326,449
National conservation area                       0         0  14,323,4
                                                                    31
National natural or historic landmark          600       600   599,042
National primitive area                          0         0         0
Scientific research area                         0         0         0
National recreation area                         0         0  1,000,00
                                                                     0
National game refuge                             0         0         0
National scenic-research area                    0         0  1,365,28
                                                                     0
Other\a                                          0    19,840  1,552,61
                                                                     4
======================================================================
Total\b                                        628    74,513  57,738,9
                                                                    28
----------------------------------------------------------------------
\a "Other" includes national outstanding natural areas. 

\b BLM officials told us that some double counting may exist among
the various conservation categories but that they could not readily
determine the extent thereof. 

Source:  GAO's analysis of data provided by the Department of the
Interior. 


MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS FACT
SHEET
============================================================ Chapter 3

RESOURCES, COMMUNITY, AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, WASHINGTON,
D.C. 

Lloyd L.  Adams
John H.  Anderson, Jr.
Lynne Goldfarb
Larry D.  Hamner
Ronald J.  Johnson
Ralph W.  Lamoreaux
John P.  Scott

DENVER REGIONAL OFFICE

Felicia A.  Turner

