[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[January 7, 1993]
[Pages 2237-2238]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting Proposed Legislation on 
Montana Public Lands Wilderness Designation
January 7, 1993

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
    I am pleased to submit for congressional consideration and passage 
the ``Montana Public Lands Wilderness Act''.

[[Page 2238]]

    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 Montana began immediately 
after the enactment of FLPMA and has now been completed. Approximately 
470,443 acres of public lands in 46 areas in Montana met the minimum 
wilderness criteria and were designated as wilderness study areas 
(WSAs). Six WSAs containing 17,880 acres were subsequently released from 
further wilderness review through the Bureau of Land Management's land 
use planning process, and four other small areas containing 
approximately 5,236 acres will be studied in future land use plans and 
are not included in the recommendations. The remaining 36 areas were 
studied and analyzed during the review process and the results 
documented in nine environmental impact statements and two instant study 
area reports.
    Based on the studies and reviews of the WSAs, the Secretary of the 
Interior recommends that all or part of 15 of the WSAs, totaling 173,499 
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 15 areas identified in the 
enclosed bill as additions to the National Wilderness Preservation 
System.
    The proposed additions represent the diversity of wilderness values 
in the State of Montana. These range from the badlands and prairie areas 
of eastern Montana to the peaks of the Rocky Mountains in the western 
part of the State. These areas span a wide variety of Montana landforms, 
ecosystems, and other natural systems and features. Their inclusion in 
the wilderness system will improve the geographic distribution of 
wilderness areas in Montana, 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 
impact of any overflights during these religious cultural activities.
    I further concur with the Secretary of the Interior that all or part 
of 30 of the WSAs encompassing 273,828 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 Montana 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.