1996 RESOLUTIONS
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FEDERATION OF WESTERN OUTDOOR CLUBS
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1996 FWOC
Resolution
No. 10:
STOP WILDERNESS STUDY AREA VIOLATIONS
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In western and central
portions of Montana, the Forest Service is illegally developing or
promoting several developments in several outstanding Wilderness Study
Areas (WSA) that total some 400,000 acres of wildlands. These
forest wildlands are to be protected as potential components of the
nation's wilderness system under the Montana Wilderness Study Act
(PL-95-150) until the U.S. Congress determines their suitability, and
designates whether these WSAs are to be included in the National
Wilderness Preservation System. These wildlands are habitat for
such animals as elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and other
wilderness-associated species.
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In Western Montana, the
WSAs being illegally assaulted by development include the Sapphire WSA
(near Hamilton) where the Bitterroot National Forest is constructing
all-terrain vehicle routes. Also in the Bitterroot, in the Blue
Joint WSA (which adjoins Idaho's Frank Church River of No Return
Wilderness Area, the largest wilderness in the lower forty-eight
states), the Forest Service has permitted a mining firm to construct
exploratory drilling pads which compromises the wilderness character of
that WSA. In the Gallatin National Forest, which borders
Yellowstone National Park to the north, a salvage timber sale is
planned by that Forest in the Hyalite-Porcupine-Buffalo Horn WSA.
This area is noted for being grizzly bear habitat, and may eventually
be home to some wolves.
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In central Montana (where
there is NO designated wilderness), the Lewis and Clark National Forest
has proposed road construction and exploratory drilling for a hard rock
mine in the Big Snowies WSA, which is important mountain goat habitat,
and a source of high quality water for fisheries and wildlife and
nearby communities. Mineral development could adversely affect
the quality of the pristine waters as well as the mountain goat
population.
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The Montana Wilderness
Study Act clearly provides (in part) that..."the wilderness study areas
designated by this Act shall, until Congress determines otherwise, be
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture so as to maintain their
presently existing wilderness character, and potential for inclusion in
the National Wilderness Preservation System."
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The Federation of Western
Outdoor Clubs calls these violations of any wilderness study areas to
cease immediately, and furthermore, in line with the FWOC's long
standing Purposes "...for protection of scenic, wilderness, and outdoor
recreation nature places in western America..." will support Montana
conservationists in their efforts to halt such illegal activities of
the designated National Forests in Montana.
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...................................................................................................................
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The Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs
requests that individual members and Member Clubs of the FWOC band
together to halt these illegal activities by sending a copy of the
above Resolution, together with issue-specific comments of their own,
to:
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The Governor of Montana, the respective
Forest Supervisors of the Bitterroot National Forest, the Gallatin
National Forest, and the Lewis and Clark National Forest, and the
Regional Forester, The Chief, U.S. Forest Service, and the Montana
Congressional delegation. (See the Lists of Officials at the end
of these Resolutions).
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