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<br />O;)J1u5 <br /> <br />within 100 feet of the main monument road. The Ghost Forest area <br />north of the Pinyon Flat Campground was recommended for inclusion <br />in the wilderness. <br /> <br />There were also some suggestions that no wilderness be designated at <br />Great Sand Dunes National Monument. This opposition was primarily <br />concerned with the limitations that wilderness designation would place <br />on expansion of recreational facilities and on activities such as <br />dune-buggy operation within the monument. <br /> <br />The suggested additions were considered, but were rejected for the <br />following reasons: <br /> <br />The wilderness line has been redrawn closer to the main monument <br />road and development, generallly to within 1/8 to 1/4 mile, as shown <br />on Exhibit B. Other lands along the main park road are needed for <br />future road realignment and for intensive visitor use. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />The master plan states that the Medano Pass road is to be retained as a <br />through road that traverses the monument to national forest land. The <br />Forest Service has requested that this road remain open to facilitate <br />their management needs. The Bureau of Land Management and <br />Colorado Governor Love also requested that the road remain open. (See <br />appended letters) <br /> <br />i <br /> <br />The proposal that no wilderness be recommended was rejected because <br />the master plan adequately provides for recreational facilities. <br />Dune-buggy operation on the fragile dune slopes and interfaces is not <br />considered compatible with proper management of this valuable natural <br />resource, whether or not wilderness is established in the monument. <br /> <br />13 <br /> <br />SUMMA TI ON <br /> <br />With the addition of 4,580 acres, the recommended wilderness at Great <br />Sand Dunes National Monument consists of approximately 32,930 <br />acres. Additionally, 670 acres are recommended as potential wilderness. <br /> <br /> <br />Director, National Park Service <br />