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<br />PUBLIC REACTION
<br />
<br />The Forest Service initially proposed the reclassification to Wilderness of 99,713
<br />acres of the Flat Tops Primitive Area, plus 53,532 acres of adjacent National Forest
<br />land. Recommended as unsuitable for Wilderness were 2,411 acres of the Primitive
<br />Area.
<br />A hearing on the 153,245-acre proposal was held in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, on
<br />October 10, 1966. The hearing record was held open for receipt of additional written
<br />testimony through November 14, 1966. Eighty-nine oral presentations were made, and
<br />over 350 letters were received.
<br />Sentiment was overwhelmingly in favor of adding the Flat Tops Primitive Area to
<br />the Wilderness System. A majority of the testimony favored a Wilderness larger than
<br />the present Primitive Area.
<br />
<br />Analysis of Hearing Record
<br />
<br />Testimony in the hearing record overlaps and duplicates considerably because many
<br />of the individuals who gave statements are members of groups, organizations, or as-
<br />sociations which also testified as organizations. Examples are garden clubs, livestock
<br />associations, or the Wilderness Society. The same organizations sometimes also dupli-
<br />cated testimony through National, State, and local chapters. It is also impractical to
<br />determine which statements are made by individuals or groups who actually know the
<br />area, as contrasted to those who are testifying on principle alone.
<br />
<br />The testimony in the hearing record revolved around five major Wilderness
<br />proposals:
<br />
<br />1. The Forest Service proposal for a Flat Tops Wilderness containing 153,245 acres.
<br />
<br />This included the original 102,124-acre Primitive Area, less 2,411 acres in
<br />Areas 1 to 6 to adjust boundaries to recognizable topographiC features, plus
<br />53,532 acres of adjacent forest lands in Areas A to M, considered eminently suit-
<br />able for Wilderness. (See Map B, Page 14)
<br />
<br />2. A proposal by the Colorado Open Space Coordinating Council for an area of
<br />230,000 acres which included:
<br />
<br />the original Primitive Area, plus the additions proposed by the Forest Ser-
<br />vice, plus seven additional areas labeled N thru T on Map B on Page 14.
<br />
<br />Principal justification for recommending these inclusions was to provide a greater
<br />variety of landscapes and foreground areas and to provide more accessible wilder-
<br />ness for families.
<br />
<br />3. The statement of Governor John A. Love which favored the Forest Service pro-
<br />posal but suggested that South Fork White River be excluded from the Wilderness
<br />until the studies and evaluation of the water resources potential of the area are
<br />further advanced. If this is not possible, he suggested that the boundary of this
<br />area be moved west to the vicinity of the confluence of the South Fork River and
<br />Lost Solar Creek.
<br />
<br />4. A proposal by the Colorado Game, Fish, and Parks Commission for an area of
<br />192,055 acres which included:
<br />
<br />the original Primitive Area, plus the additions proposed by the Forest Service
<br />plus nine additional areas.
<br />
<br />These areas, totalling 38,810 acres, are all inside the areas proposed by COSCC
<br />under No.2 above. Principal justification given for these inclusions was to provide
<br />
<br />1;)
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