Speech #870122353

This is a decision of the Congress for which recommendations of the Outdoor Recreation Commission are not needed. Yet it will be helpful to the Commission in making its recommendations to have this policy definitely established. The proposal makes wilderness preservation a responsibility of existing landadministering agencies as an aspect of the administration of our already existing national forests. parks. and refugeesrather than the responsibility of a new agency with a new category of land. Such a decision is not a concern of the Outdoor Recreation Commission but of Congress. yet when made it will facilitate the drafting of the Commissions report. The measure prescribes the proper uses of areas of wilderness and determines such special provisions as are to be made with regard to economic and other nonconforming uses of these areas.