1. Dinosaur National Monument (the part in Colorado) 2. Mount Zirkel-Dome Peak Wild Area (National Forest) 3. Rawah Primitive Area (National Forest) 4. Rocky Mountain National Park 5. Flat Tops Primitive Area (National Forest) 6. Gore Range-Eagle Nest Primitive Area (National Forest) 7. Colorado National Monument 8. Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wild Area (National Forest) 9. West Elk Primitive Area (National Forest) 10. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument ............................................ 11. Uncompahgre Primitive Area (National Forest) 12. Wilson Mountains Primitive Area (National Forest) 13. Mesa Verde National Park ...... 14. San Juan Primitive Area (National Forest) 15. Upper Rio Grande Primitive Area (National Forest) .................... 64,600 52,000 14,465 69,253 27,347 51,334 240,000 56,600 38.030 ..................... 16. La Garita-Sheep Mountain Primitive Area (National Forest) .......... L Acres 1. San Pedro Parks Wild Area (National Forest) ........................... 41,132 2. Pecos Wilderness Area (National Forest)....................................... 165,000 3. Blue Range Primitive Area (Portion in New Mexico)....... 36,598 4. Gila Wilderness Area (National Forest).................. 516,014 5. Black Range Primitive Area (National Forest )........... 169,984 6. White Sands National Monument .......... 146,535 7. White Mountain Primitive Area (National Forest)......... 24,000 8. Carlsbad Caverns National Park ...... Total .... 49,448 ....1,148,711 ONLY 6 AREAS IN WASHINGTON INCLUDED IN NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM Acreage of 2,522,947 Is Less Than 6 Percent of Washington's Area WASHINGTON 1. North Cascade Primitive Area (National Forest) Acres 801,000 2. Glacier Peak Wilderness Area (National Forest) ....................................... 458,505 3. Olympic National Park 4. Mount Rainier National Park ...... Total ............. 896,599 ................. 241,782 ... ........ ........... 82,680 42.411 .2,522,977 ..... URGENCY One of the most insidious of the arguments by those who seem to be diehards in their wilderness bill opposition is the proposition that this legislation should be postponed until after the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission has made its report. Some of those advancing this argument seem to be more interested in defeating the wilderness bill than in helping the recreation review, and those who are advancing it in all earnestness seem to be underestimating the urgency and usefulness of the wilderness legislation and misunderstanding the nature of the recreation review's place in our immediate programs. It may be superfluous for me to comment further on this argument to you, Mr. Chairman, or to a committee of your colleagues. I am aware of your leadership in sponsoring the legislation that established the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission and of your membership on the Commission. I am also aware of the comments in your statement on the introduction of your wilderness bill. I agree with you that this legislation will establish a policy and program regarding wilderness which will give shape and orderliness to the Outdoor Recreation Commission's considerations regarding wilderness. I should think that this legislation would indeed be a help to the Commission, for, as you have said, it will provide procedures whereby the Commission's wilderness recommendations can be carried out, and the existence of these procedures can help the Commission formulate its recommendations. It also includes a definition. We value highly the prospect of having the report and recommendations of the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission, but we should not postpone the urgency of this wilderness legislation any longer. The wilderness bill has been pending since before the Outdoor Recreation Commission was established. It has been the subject of extensive hearings. It has been studied in detail by the executive agencies. It has been commended by the President. It should have prompt consideration by the Congress, and in my opinion should be promptly enacted. AN ENDURING PROGRAM Finally, Mr. Chairman, I should like to share with you my faith that in this effort we are dealing with something that can be of enduring benefit to the American people. We are not engaged in a rearguard action. We are facing a frontier. We are not opposing civilization or progress. We are dealing positively and constructively with an important aspect of our civilization. We are making progress, not fighting it. The opportunity you have created by introducing this measure is one for establishing policies so consistent with other national policies that they will become progressively firmer, more deeply respected, more highly valued. With this measure enacted, we shall face a future in which wilderness, I am confident, will be recognized as one of our great cultural as well as natural resources and its preservation an American tradition. |