[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[July 22, 1992]
[Pages 1161-1162]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting Proposed Legislation on 
Oregon Public Lands Wilderness Designation

July 22, 1992
Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
    I am pleased to submit for congressional consideration and passage 
the ``Oregon Public Lands Wilderness Act''.
    The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), (43 
U.S.C. 1701, et seq.), directs the Secretary of the Interior to review 
the wilderness potential of the public lands.
    The review of the areas identified in Oregon began immediately after 
the enactment of FLPMA and has now been completed. Approximately 
2,806,598 acres of public lands in 92 areas in Oregon met the minimum 
wilderness criteria and were designated as wilderness study areas 
(WSAs). These WSAs were studied and analyzed during the review process 
and the results documented in three environmental impact statements and 
five instant study area reports.
    Based on the studies and reviews of the WSAs, the Secretary of the 
Interior recommends that all or part of 49 of the WSAs, totaling 
1,278,073 acres of public lands, be designated as part of the National 
Wilderness Preservation System.
    I concur with the Secretary of the Interior's recommendations and am 
pleased to recommend designation of the 49 areas (totaling 1,278,073 
acres) identified in the enclosed draft legislation as additions to the 
National Wilderness Preservation System.
    The proposed additions represent the diversity of wilderness values 
in the State of Oregon. These range from the 9,730-foot Steens Mountain 
peak, to the deep canyons of the Owyhee River and the John Day River, to 
the small islands off the Oregon coast. These areas span a wide variety 
of Oregon landforms, ecosystems, and other natural systems and features. 
Their inclusion in the wilderness system will improve the geographic 
distribution of wilderness areas in Oregon, and will complement existing 
areas of congressionally designated wilderness. They will provide new 
and outstanding opportunities for solitude and unconfined recreation.
    The enclosed draft legislation provides that designation as 
wilderness shall not constitute a reservation of water or water rights 
for wilderness purposes. This is consistent with the fact that the 
Congress did not establish a Federal reserved water right for wilderness 
purposes. The Administration has established the policy that, where it 
is necessary to obtain water rights for wilderness purposes in a 
specific wilderness area, water rights would be sought from the State by 
filing under State water laws. Furthermore, it is the policy of the 
Administration that the designation of wilderness areas should not 
interfere with the use of water rights, State water administration, or 
the use of a State's interstate water allocation.
    The draft legislation also provides for access to wilderness areas 
by Indian people for traditional cultural and religious purposes. Access 
by the general public may be limited in order to protect the privacy of 
religious cultural activities taking place in specific wilderness areas. 
In addition, to the fullest extent practicable, the Department of the 
Interior will coordinate with the Department of Defense to minimize the

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impact of any overflights during these religious cultural activities.
    I further concur with the Secretary of the Interior that all or part 
of 76 of the WSAs encompassing 1,528,525 acres are not suitable for 
preservation as wilderness.
    Also enclosed are a letter and report from the Secretary of the 
Interior concerning the WSAs discussed above and a section-by-section 
analysis of the draft legislation. I urge the Congress to act 
expeditiously and favorably on the proposed legislation so that the 
natural resources of these WSAs in Oregon may be protected and 
preserved.
    Sincerely,

                                                             George Bush

                    Note: Identical letters were sent to Thomas S. 
                        Foley, Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
                        and Dan Quayle, President of the Senate.