Senator MUNDT. I thought when they came into the Union everything was all in one package.

Mr. LANDSTROM. This is not true with respect to the Taylor Grazing Act. It was not extended to Alaska and the lands are in a different category in that respect. It is a rather important distinction for many purposes.

Senator MUNDT. Of course. Are there any other distinctions, or is that the only one?

Mr. LANDSTROM. I would say that is the only outstanding one of any consequence.

Senator MUNDT. Do you think it is wise that the Taylor Grazing Act does not include the lands in Alaska?

Mr. LANDSTROM. Senator, this would be a question regarding a report on a legislative proposal. There is no specific one right at the I would say from my personal point of view, in discussion with many informed parties, that there is quite a strong movement to bring the lands in Alaska under the same general provisions as those in the other States. At the present time there is what is known as the Alaska Grazing Act, which does permit the lease of lands there for grazing, but there are other provisions of the Taylor Grazing Act, especially regarding the lease and disposition of lands which in my personal opinion should be thought of at this time.

Senator MUNDT. It is entirely understandable while Alaska was a territory for so long that its public domain would come under different analysis and different type of administration. After all, it was not a State. But normally, you expect national legislation to cover all the States of the Union and not that it will be this way in North Dakota and different in South Dakota.

I was wondering whether in your opinion it might be wise, or whether you construe it otherwise, not trying to prejudge your answer, to bring the Alaskan holdings under the same Federal laws that apply now to the other 49 States or maybe Hawaii. At least the other 48 States.

Mr. LANDSTROM. As I have said, my personal view is that this should be very carefully considered and I think this is the time to do it. Senator MUNDT. Thank you.

PUBLIC LAND POLICY

Mr. LANDSTROM. These lands are rich in natural resources and they make a significant contribution to the economy of the Nation. We also transfer title to lands properly opened to entry where disposition will bring about a higher use. In addition, the Bureau has responsibility for mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf, lands under the jurisdiction of other Federal agencies and private lands where mineral rights have been reserved to the United States.

It is the responsibility of the Secretary of the Interior to administer these resources so that widest use may be made of them while at the same time protecting them for future benefit to the country. To illustrate the variety of uses, I might state that forage for over 11.5 million head of livestock and game animals is available for part of their annual requirements. Approximately 1.2 billion board feet of timber and other forest and woodland products will be made available to western markets in 1962. The public domain also is the source

of a substantial part of the Nation's annual output of petroleum products and other minerals. At the same time needs for cooperative development and management of recreation areas on public domain lands are increasing steadily.

The budget estimates for 1962, as amended, will permit acceleration of the Bureau's programs in furtherance of the objectives for conservation, protection, and development of the public lands and their resources which were stated in President Kennedy's message to the Congress on natural resources.

I might say at that point that President Kennedy's economic message also referred to the lands administered by our Bureau and in regard to programs for accelerating procurement and construction generally in the Government, he stated that these lands together with those of the Forest Service and the National Park Service hold excellent possibilities to include programs for improving the roads, recreational facilities, and forests in those lands.

BUDGET ESTIMATE FOR 1962

As presented in the amended budget submitted by the President, the estimate for 1962 for the appropriation "Management of lands and resources" is $33 million, representing a net increase of $4.629 million over the estimated amount appropriated for 1961, including the supplemental appropriation to partially meet increased pay costs. Adjustments required to reflect increased pay costs on a full-year basis amounting to $340,000 and the elimination of the emergency fire rehabilitation supplemental appropriation of $1.425 million from the 1961 base results in a total increase of $5.714 million for the regular operating programs.

HOUSE ACTION

The increases and decreases between these 2 years are summarized on pages 7, 8, and 9 of the justification. The House recommended a total of $32.4 million for this appropriation which is a reduction of $600,000 from the budget estimates. This reduction is composed of the following items:

First, denial of $340,000 required to place increased pay costs on a full-year basis. Second, denial of $221,000 to increase general administration which is required to provide adequate administrative support to the substantially expanded program.

Chairman HAYDEN. As to the pay costs, is there any way you can

absorb that?

Mr. LANDSTROM. Mr. Chairman, we do not think we can absorb that and do the job we are expected to do here at this time with these lands; no, sir. We have attempted to absorb as much as possible and some was and is being absorbed in the current year.

Looking into 1962 with the added requirements upon these lands. and the need for improving and developing them, we do not feel that can be absorbed.

Senator MUNDT. From what page are you reading? I can't seem to find it in my statement.

Mr. LANDSTROM. This is just a brief summary of the prepared statement. I am trying to summarize the paper. The information is at the middle of page 3 of your copy of the statement.

Senator MUNDT. Very well.

Mr. LANDSTROM. The third item that the House based the reduction upon was the $39,000 item to round off the estimate which had been applied to soil and moisture conservation.

FUNDS FOR GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

This reduction of $600,000 made by the House will directly affect the program performance of the Bureau and will result in deferrals of work in such urgent areas as the backlog of lands and minerals applications, the expansion of public domain timber sales, surveys, and range rehabilitation.

The reduction in general administration is serious and may hinder all programs as the result of procurement, recruiting and accounting delays.

Therefore, full restoration of the total House reduction is essential to the various new and renewed programs which are being initiated or accelerated in order to conserve, protect, and develop the public land and their resources. These programs are in furtherance of the objectives for development of public lands which were stated in President Kennedy's message on natural resources.

NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS

Chairman HAYDEN. If you had more than the $5,650,000 requested for adjudication of land applications, could a greater number of cases be closed and your backlog reduced below the expected 87,000 pending cases at the end of the fiscal year? If so, how much more money would you need?

Mr. LANDSTROM. First, restoration of the funds to place pay costs on a full year basis is needed. There is $133,000 for the adjudication program included in the restoration request for pay costs which would avoid the reduction in the program of 20 permanent positions. With the full amount of $5,650,000 for adjudication, it is estimated there will be 84,000 cases pending as of the end of fiscal year 1962. This number of cases is considered to closely approximate a normal operation, in view of mandatory timelags and the volume of our operations. However, $300,000 of additional funds could be used in further reduction in pending mineral cases. The large number of these cases is due to the simultaneous filing procedure and we could expedite the consummation of applications. It should be pointed out that achieving a pipeline operation is dependent to a significant degree upon field examination and classification. As of February 1, 1961, more than half of the pending lands cases were actually awaiting classification action. A substantial increase in funds for field examination and classification could be used advantageously in the inventory of our resources and in area classification, thus making them available more quickly for their highest and proper use.

CONSTRUCTION

On the next item, "Construction," the estimate for 1962 is $1,050,000 an increase of $700,000 from 1961. This increase provides an additional $325,000 for construction of access roads, bringing that up to a total of $575,000. It also includes an additional $175,000 for the building program in Alaska and the Western States to a total of

$275,000. It also adds $200,000 to provide minimum facilities for outdoor recreation on certain public domain lands to be retained in Federal ownership where public use has become extremely heavy.

Chairman HAYDEN. At this point I will insert in the record the budget estimate for the "Construction" program in the amount of $1,050,000.

(The information referred to follows:)

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

This estimate of $575,000 for access roads on public domain lands will provide access (1) to stands of mature and overmature timber on public domain lands making additional supplies of marketable timber available to small businesses and (2) for management and recreation purposes. The amount available in 1961 included a carryover of $226,919 from the prior year plus an appropriation of $250,000.

Satisfactory access is the key to sound timber sales and related forest management activities for the public domain timberlands. Lack of suitable access is particularly acute in Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. In most are is minimum standard roads will be provided with additional improvement made as a condition of the timber sale contracts. The program detailed below will provide for easements, acquisition of existing roads, and construction to give access to public domain timber not now accessible. Without assured access, competitive interest in the timber will be severely restricted and a substantial amount of the timber which might otherwise be offered for sale cannot be marketed. The roads also provide for protection and management of the lands, recreation, and other purposes.

Demands for outdoor recreation on lands administered by BLM are expanding very rapidly, with increasing pressure from outside sources for making extensive areas of such lands accessible for public use and enjoyment. Immediate needs include construction of roads, purchase of existing roads, and acquisition of easements to provide approximately 250 miles of additional access roads in California, Oregon, Wyoming, Arizona, and Colorado. The amount requested is necessary to provide improved public access to extensive areas of public domain lands suitable for recreation and other purposes which will not otherwise be accessible in fiscal year 1962.

Details of the 1962 access roads program are set forth in the following table:

The estimate for planning and construction of buildings in the Western States and Alaska is $275,000. The amount available in 1961 includes $86,104 carried over from the prior year plus an appropriation of $100,000 in 1961. The estimate of $275,000 for fiscal year 1962 is necessary to complete several installations now in various stages of construction in Alaska which are vital to the Alaska fire control operation; to initiate action on the expansion of the installation at Fairbanks, Alaska; and for construction of facilities at two locations in the Western States.

Alaska.—In order to obtain maximum benefits from the expanded Alaska fire control effort necessary facilities must be provided. Vast distances, severe climate, and complex construction problems contribute to the high costs of establishing these essential components of the total fire protection program. This program includes office-quarters buildings, warehouses, power, water, sanitation, and heating facilities which are available from no other sources.

Western States.-Work of the Bureau has been hampered in certain areas of the West by lack of suitable buildings for offices, warehouses, maintenance shops, and equipment vehicle storage. It is necessary also to provide for expansion of some Bureau facilities where space is not adequate. This estimate provides for facilities at two locations in Nevada and Oregon.