TABLE B.-Summary of wilderness-type areas and national parks within 375 miles of the Selway-Bitterroot Primitive Area-Continued

Grand total, wilderness-type areas and national parks‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒ 12, 275, 231 1 Resulting from reclassification in 1959 of part of the North Cascade Primitive Area. Source: Senate hearings, July 1958; and "Conservation Yearbook, 1958."

TITLE 2300. RECREATION MANAGEMENT1

Wilderness areas, regulation U-1 (63 CFR 251.20)

(a) Upon recommendation of the Chief, Forest Service, national forest lands in single tracts of not less than 100,000 acres may be designated by the Secre tary as "wilderness areas," within which there shall be no roads or other provision for motorized transportation, no commercial timber cutting, and no occupancy under special-use permit for hotels, stores, resorts, summer homes, organization camps, hunting and fishing lodges, or similar uses:

Provided, That roads over national forest lands reserved from the public domain and necessary for ingress and egress to or from privately owned property shall be allowed under appropriate conditions determined by the forest supervisor, and upon allowance of such roads the boundary of the wilderness area may be modified to exclude the portion affected by the roads.

(b) Grazing of domestic livestock, development of water-storage projects which do not involve road construction, and improvements necessary for the protection of the forest may be permitted subject to such restrictions as the Chief deems desirable. Within such designated wildernesses when the use is for other than administrative needs and emergencies, the landing of airplanes and the use of motorboats are prohibited on national forest land or water. unless such use by airplanes or motorboats has already become well established; and the use of motor vehicles is prohibited unless the use is in accordance with a statutory right of ingress and egress.

(c) Wilderness areas will not be modified or eliminated except by order of the Secretary. Except as provided in paragraph (a) above, notice of every proposed establishment, modification, or elimination will be published or publicly posted by the Forest Service for a period of at least 90 days prior to the approval of the contemplated order; and if there is any demand for a public hearing, the regional forester shall hold such hearing and make full report thereon to the Chief of the Forest Service, who will submit it with his recommendations to the Secretary. (20 F.R. 8422–23, Nov. 10, 1955.)

1 Copied from the May 1958 Forest Service manual.

Wild areas, regulation U-2 (36 CFR 251.21)

Suitable areas of national forest land in single tracts of less than 100,000 acres but not less than 5,000 acres may be designated by the Chief, Forest Service, as "wild areas," which shall be administered in the same manner as wilderness areas, with the same restrictions upon their use. The procedure for establishment, modification, or elimination of wild areas shall be as for wilderness areas, except that final action in each case will be by the Chief.

INLAND EMPIRE MULTIPLE USE COMMITTEE, LEWISTON, IDAHO, REPORT No. 3 Enclosed is a report reviewing the Forest Service proposal for reclassifying the Anaconda-Pintlar Primitive Area in Montana as a "wilderness area." May I call your attention to our committee's support of the Forest Service proposal in this case.

In brief, the Forest Service proposes to exclude 21,050 acres of the present primitive area and add 14,445 acres for a net reduction of 6,605 acres, resulting in an Anaconda-Pintlar Wilderness Area of 159,000 acres spanning over 30 miles of the Continental Divide.

While the essential characteristics of wilderness and primitive areas are similar, the "wilderness" classification more clearly defines "wilderness" and provides for more permanent and restrictive administration under Department of Agriculture regulations.

You may recall that we objected to the Forest Service-proposed SelwayBitterroot Wilderness Area as being too large and containing too many resources having higher values for essential nonwilderness uses than for wilderness recreation. In the case of the Anaconda-Pintlar, however, we feel the area proposed for "wilderness" classification is reasonable in size as well as the amount of nonwilderness resources it will restrict. For example, the Anaconda-Pintlar is only one-seventh as large as the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area proposed by the Forest Service, and contains only about one-fifth as much standing commercial timber volume. Because of higher elevations, growth rates and quality of timber are lower in the Anaconda-Pintlar.

Although the acreage of land classed as "commercial forest" is relatively high (63 percent, or 99,000 acres), and the volume of timber still substantial (673,900,000 board feet), we feel that various physical factors make the area a marginal one as far as economical development of the timber resource is concerned-at least in the foreseeable future. Also, problems of big game management, fire protection, and accessible family recreation are not nearly as great.

We have concluded that the Anaconda-Pintlar is generally well qualified for wilderness preservation with a minimum of conflict with other uses. Therefore, on the basis of present knowledge, we are not recommending any significant boundary changes.

Our major concern is for the mineral resources of the area, which have not yet been adequately determined. We are recommending periodic evaluation of these resources by qualified agencies so that knowledge on potential strategic minerals will be available in event of unforeseen local needs and national emergencies.

This is the third major report our committee has prepared on wilderness. Additional copies of all reports are available on request.

Your comments, criticisms, and questions will be welcomed.

ROYCE G. Cox, Chairman.

INTRODUCTION

To All Users of Natural Resources:

The following report is presented for your information. It was prepared by the Inland Empire Multiple Use Committee, a group working for sound, integrated conservation, development, and use of natural resources on both public

and private lands. This committee firmly believes that wilderness is an important part of overall multiple-use resource management; it also believes the amount and kind of land classified as "wilderness" must be carefully weighed against the many other needs of society.

Every citizen of the United States is a part owner of the lands administered by the Forest Service and has a personal interest in the proposed reclassification of the 164,408 acres of the Anaconda-Pintlar Primitive Area.

A hearing to receive public views concerning the Forest Service proposed Anaconda-Pintlar Wilderness Area is scheduled for February 20, 1962, in Butte, Mont., at the Finlen Hotel, 9 a.m. m.s.t. Individual opinions may be presented at the hearing orally or by written statement. Written comments may be sent to the Regional Forester, U.S. Forest Service, Federal Building, Missoula, Mont. The committee has attempted to analyze all the multiple-use considerations involved-wilderness recreation, fish and game, watershed, grazing, timber, minerals, and their economic impacts.

In analyzing this information, the committee was guided by the same three general premises followed in previous studies:

1. The multiple-use concept includes wilderness as a valid use.

2. Those areas having a higher use value as a wilderness should be retained in the Anaconda-Pintlar Wilderness Area.

3. Those areas having a higher value for uses other than wilderness should be excluded, except where needed to preserve true wilderness characteristics. The committee gratefully acknowledges the cooperation of the Forest Service in making information available. The opinions and advice of many other persons is also appreciated. The committee accepts full responsibility for the use made of this information and for the interpretations and recomendations included in this report. Neither approval nor disapproval of the report by any of the information sources is in any way implied.

Respectfully,

JANUARY 1962.

THE INLAND EMPIRE MULTIPLE USE COMMITTEE.

DETAILS OF PROPOSAL-ANACONDA-PINTLAR PRIMITIVE AREA

The Anaconda-Pintlar Primitive Area is located in three national forests-the Bitterroot, Beaverhead, and Deer Lodge. The primitive area was established by the Acting Chief of the Forest Service on October 2, 1937. The area covers 164,048 acres in southwestern Montana, approximately 15 miles southwest of Anaconda, Mont. This area straddles approximately 40 miles of the Continental Divide at the headwaters of the Big Hole River in the Missouri River Basin; Rock Creek and the East Fork of the Bitterroot River in the Columbia River Basin.

The Anaconda Range forms the backbone of the area with elevations ranging from 6,100 to 10,475 feet. The Anaconda Range joins the lower Sapphire Mountain Range on the west, which extends along the east side of the Bitterroot Valley. The northeast portion of the primitive area has an number of high, barren, and precipitous peaks, which are the beginning of deep, rocky canyons into the Big Hole and Rock Creek drainages.

There are 105,604 acres (63 percent of total area) of commercial forest containing an estimated 410 million board feet of sawtimber (sawtimber diameter breast high 11-plus inches) with an average stand of approximately 4,000 board feet per acre). These same 105,604 acres contain an estimated 291 million board feet of pole-size timber 5- to 11-inch diameter breast high, with an average pole stand of 3,000 board feet per acre). The potential annual harvest is an estimated 7 million board feet.

The history of this area is described by quoting the Forest Service brochure.' "In 1929, the Secretary of Agriculture put regulation L-20 into effect. It provided for a 'series of areas to be known as primitive areas within which will be maintained primitive conditions of environment, transportation, habitation, and subsistence with a view to conserving the value of such areas for purposes of public education and recreation.' The regulation prohibited construction of permanent improvements other than for administrative needs and prohibited certain types of occupancy. It allowed continued use of roads and of improvements already in place.

"During the next 10 years, 73 primitive areas totaling 13%1⁄2 million acres were established under regulation L-20. Many of these tracts, including the Anaconda-Pintlar, were selected with the idea that further study and possible changes would be necessary before some could be completely qualified as having true primitive conditions. Boundary lines were of necessity based on then existing general knowledge of the area rather than on thorough on-the-ground studies and surveys.

"In 1939, after 10 years of experience in administering primitive areas, the Secretary of Agriculture issued new regulations. These provided for studies of existing primitive areas. They directed that portions whose greatest values were as wilderness, be classified as either 'wilderness' or 'wild' areas under regulations U-1 and U-2. These define 'wilderness' more clearly, rule out some improvements under regulation L-20, and are more permanent in nature. "When the Anaconda-Pintlar Primitive Area was established by the Acting Chief of the Forest Service on October 2, 1937, its size was calculated at 144,940 acres. This figure was used for statistical purposes until the current study revealed a total area of 164,408 acres.

"The management guidelines have been very effective in protecting the area's wilderness qualities. Although surrounded by industrial and agricultural communities, it remains outstanding wilderness. With the exception of the Carp Creek Trail, which has been widened into a jeep trail by prospectors, all present roads were in existence when the primitive area was established. The road in the Middle Fork of Rock Creek was improved by miners between 1939 and 1946. Modern passenger cars can now penetrate about 3 miles into the primitive area."

1 "Anaconda-Pintlar Wilderness Area Proposal," available from U.S. Forest Service.