Colorado Wilderness Review Project

The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 8:30 a.m., at the Avalon Theater, 645 Main Street, Grand Junction, Colorado, Hon. Larry E. Craig, presiding.

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. LARRY E. CRAIG,

U.S. SENATOR FROM IDAHO

Senator CRAIG. The Subcommittee of Forests and Public Land Management of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the U.S. Senate will be convened.

Let me say for those of you who have brought signs into the room this morning, in an official Senate hearing, we do not allow that. Out of courtesy to you, we have allowed that today. So, we would wish you would treat us and others without signs with courtesy. And that means to keep them low so that others can see and hear. And we would ask and appreciate that. And if not, we will ask you to take those signs out. So, please, with courtesy, use the signs appropriately.

Let me tell you that it is a pleasure to be back in Grand Junction, and bring the subcommittee here. I am here at the request of Senator Allard and Senator Campbell on an issue that I know is tremendously important to all of the citizens of this area.

I am also pleased that Congressman McInnis could join us this morning. And I thank you all for the weather.

[Laughter.]

Senator CRAIG. We are going to take testimony today on the BLM management's wilderness review efforts within the State of Colorado. In my years as an elected official, I have learned a few things. And I have been taught, where I did not want to learn. And one of the things I have learned is that with the concept of wilderness comes a lot of deep emotions, concerns by all sides, as to how the land will be managed in the present and in the future and that is not unusual-those emotions that drove the engine that actually created this great country of ours, how the land would be used and how human freedoms would be associated to that.

The national vision of public lands, like this country itself, has changed dramatically over the years. At first, the land was an obstacle, to be challenged and overcome. Then it became a resource

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upon which a growing Nation drew its sustenance. Today there is a recognition that large tracts of untrammeled public lands are a diminished resource and deserve special consideration when land use planning efforts are undertaken.

As witnessed by our presence here in Grand Junction today, even the decision to study lands for potential inclusion into the Nation's wilderness system can be counted upon to spark polarization, reactions that are obviously going to be heard here today, and oftentimes engage a rigorous debate.

There is no mystery why people have deep-held convictions when it comes to wilderness. For some, it is considered the final act of protection that will preserve a place of rare beauty or of historic significance. For others, it seems to be a door slammed on the opportunity to extract from the land an economic contribution to help in sustaining their families and their communities.

The designation of wilderness to protect environmental values is a legitimate topic of consideration, particularly within the debate over the future of our public lands. It is important to remember, however, that once a wilderness designation occurs, it is nearly irrevocable. Therefore, it is a decision which absolutely must be based on the very best information available and, more importantly, it is a decision that must be based on the input of a full spectrum of the affected people when that decision is finalized.

The hearing today is designed to provide those interests with an opportunity to share their view on BLM's ongoing wilderness review efforts here in Colorado.

With that, let me turn to my colleague, Senator Wayne Allard, for his opening statement. And I will also submit for the record statements by Senator Ben Campbell, who could not be here this morning, but I would recognize that he has representation here in the form of Kevin Studer.

[A prepared statement of Senator Campbell follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL, U.S. SENATOR FROM COLORADO

I would like to personally thank my friend and colleague Senator Craig for making a long journey and chairing the hearing on Wilderness issues in my home State of Colorado and Senator Allard for all of his interest and hard work for putting together this field hearing. I would like to be here with you today, but due to a prior commitment, I am unable too.

I have dealt with the BLM over and over again as a rancher near Ignacio, as a State representative, congressman and now as the Senior Senator from Colorado, and a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

The issue of the BLM and designating new Wilderness Areas is contentious throughout the West, especially here on the Western slope of Colorado. I have addressed this issue time and time again with Secretary Babbitt and the administration.

I explained to Secretary Babbitt at an Interior Appropriations hearing this year in April that this issue has gained so much interest back here at home that the Colorado legislature passed a joint resolution requesting Congress to clarify whether the BLM has the authority to reinventory the land managed by the agency, and asked the BLM to continue to allow multiple uses on lands that are being reinventoried. It's clear Wilderness Study Areas and the BLM's management of federal lands here have a direct impact on Colorado.

I appreciate the intent of Wilderness Study Areas, but I am concerned that the BLM is creating de facto wilderness without any official designation by Congress. The wilderness reinventory of BLM lands for possible inclusion into Wilderness Study Areas, is in my opinion, another attempt by the administration to implement laws through regulations. Frankly, the people on the Western slope of Colorado

whose livelihoods depend on access to public lands are concerned that these actions could have huge repercussions at the local level. This is especially true when it deals with something as sensitive as public lands management and private property rights.

I will be especially interested in the input from everyone at this hearing today and would hope that the representatives from the BLM will be listening closely and accurately relaying this information back to their colleagues in Washington. Thank you, Mr. Chairman

SENATOR CRAIG. Senator Allard.

STATEMENT OF HON. WAYNE ALLARD, U.S. SENATOR
FROM COLORADO

Senator ALLARD. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

First of all, I would like to thank you I know you have a very busy schedule to take a Saturday to be here in Colorado and listen to the concerns of the people of Colorado, particularly here on the Western Slope, where most of our BLM lands are located.

And I would also like to thank all of you for being here this morning. I know that you are taking time from your daily duties that you ordinarily do on a Saturday, whether it is family or business of whatever. And I know that you are here at some sacrifice, too. And I do appreciate it.

I think these kind of hearings are vitally important to the process. And I think that it is really important that we do hear from those people who are impacted by decisions that Congress makes, and certainly the process needs to start at the local level.

And, Mr. Chairman, I want to commend you for being sensitive to the role that local people should play in the decisionmaking process.

I requested this hearing. And I believe Chairman Craig agreed to hold this hearing because the best way to manage Federal lands is with thoughtful input of local citizens, officials and organizations. There is no reason the decision should be made solely by people in office buildings. The folks in Washington, D.C. are certainly no smarter than the people in Colorado. And they have the added burden of being close to 2,000 miles away from this great State. And so we have to make every effort possible to gather and consider local views.

So, again, I want to thank Senator Craig and his very able staff for coming here. Although I hope they do not consider it a chore to be in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, after Washington. And I want to thank Senator Campbell also, Congressman Scott McInnis, and all the panel participants, the public commentators, and audience members who are concerned enough with the proper management of their land and its resources to give their time and knowledge.

Wilderness designation is one of the most important and farreaching designations that Congress can make, and one that should not be taken lightly. My views on the wilderness designation process boil down to two words: common sense. The "multi-use" philosophy of the BLM is designed to allow our citizens to get the maximum value from their public lands. Wilderness ends the multi-use ideal. It curbs many of the activities that people normally do on public lands.

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Colorado Wilderness Review Project: Hearing Before the ..., Volume 4