WSP11057

• File Number: 7630.025
• Description: Wild and Scenic-BLM
• State: CO
• Date: 4/26/1979
• Author: Colorado BLM
• Title: BLM Wilderness Inventory-BLM Colorado State Director Seeks Public Review of Preliminary Wilderness Inventory Unit Decisions
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: News Article/Press Release

~ COLORADO FOR RELEASE IMMEDIATE
I'~ CONTACT HINTON/ARCHER

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BLM COLORADO STATE DIRECTOR SEEKS PUBLIC REVIEW OF
PRELIMINARY WILDERNESS INVENTORY UNIT DECISIONS

MAR 2 6 1979

DlV. OF PI rmm:r;
1.2 million acres, included i~ 117 areas, have been identified

Some

as roadless and in need of public review under the Bureau of Land Management's
(BLM) current wilderness inventory process, according to Dale R. Andrus,

Colorado State Director. BLM manages 8.5 million acres of public land in
Colorado.

"This first step of the BLM Wilderness Inventory as directed by the

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FlPMA) has been accomplished

by using mostly in-house information. Public review of the 1,170,538

identified acres is crucial as to whether or not these areas are potential

Wilderness Study Areas and candidates for the National Wilderness Preservation
'System. Equally important is whether we overlooked any areas that could

. qual i fy for further study." Andrus says, "and" he conti nued, "we need data
that will help in deciding what areas warrant intensive inventory for

wilderness characteristics."

BLM began the Statewide Wilderness Inventory in November 1978 and the

5 months used in reviewing and transfering known information onto a map now

gives the public an opportunity to comment on the inventory units.

A 90-day formal review period begins May 1 and runs through July 31,

1980. Five open houses will be held around the State and give people a

chance to familiarize themselves as to how these preliminary conclusions
were reached.

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