In the 1980s. the Bureau of Land Management recommended a large portion of these mountains as wilderness. and this recommendation has received strong public support. The Otay Mountain Wilderness Act of 1999. introduced by our distinguished colleague from California . would designate about 18.500 acres of the Otay Mountain region as wilderness to protect its sensitive resources and preserve it for future generations. During the negotiations and hearings on H.R. 15. several sources expressed concern that wilderness designation in the Otay Mountain region could adversely affect Border Patrol and drug interdiction activities. LI 1415 The Border Patrol assured the committee that in light of the fact that the roads in the area were excluded from the wilderness area and given the language in section 6(b) of the bill. border operations would not be adversely affected by wilderness designation. Given these assurances. the committee decided not to amend section 6(b). I want to emphasize once again that H.R. 15 has widespread support from environmental groups. the BLM. the DEA. the Border Patrol and the people of San Diego County. I commend the gentleman from California for his hard work on this important piece of legislation. This is good legislation that will protect an important area.
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