FEDERATION OF WESTERN OUTDOOR CLUBS

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OPPOSE LEGISLATION UNDERMINING WILDERNESS STUDY AREAS

H.R. 4620, mistakenly entitled "America's Wilderness Protection Act," was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Otter (R, ID) and Hansen (R, UT) on April 30, 2002, with seven Republican co-sponsors from western states. This bill has already had a hearing before the House Resource Committee's subcommittee on Parks and Wilderness chaired by Mr. Hansen.

Under the provisions of this bill, Wilderness Study Areas could be released from Wilderness Study status whenever the Secretary of the department administering the area finds that the Study Area is not suitable for designation as wilderness.

If this bill were enacted, three million acres of Wilderness Study lands could be released in Nevada alone. Most of these lands were recommended as "unsuitable" for wilderness by the Bureau of Land Management in 1990 because of "high mineral content." This recommendation would not be made today.

The Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs strongly opposes the passage of H.R. 4520 or any other bill designed to open wilderness-quality lands to rampant development and unrestricted vehicle use.

Members should contact their representatives and ask them to oppose this legislation.