Management Proposals for the Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests, Public Hearing Notice

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I. DESCRIPTION Pursuant to the Wilderness Act of 1964, the Forest Service, USDA, has reviewed the Uncompahgre and Wilson Mountains Primitive Areas and contiguous lands within the Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests, Colorado, and identified five Units that should be con- sidered for inclusion within the National Wilderness Preservation System. In addition, some 84,869 acres within the present Primitive Areas were judged not suitable and /or available. Both Primitive Areas were established under the authority of Secretary of Agriculture Regulation L -20 in 1932. Together, they now contain 83,419 acres of National Forest lands and 16,749 acres of other ownerships. Since classification, the National Forest lands have been administered as Primitive Areas pursuant to the applicable Secretary of Agriculture Regulations. Certain lands (some 120,665 acres) contiguous to the Primitive Areas have been administered under the laws and regulations applicable to general National Forest lands, and for the most part, have retained their near - natural appearance. Several laws and regulations are pertinent to the management of the area. They are: 1. The Organic Administration Act of June 4, 1897, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 551. 2. The Multiple Use - Sustained Yield Act of 1960, 16 U.S.C. 528 -531. 3. The Wilderness Act of 1964, 16 U.S.C. 1131 -36. 4. Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 293.1 through 293.17. The Multiple Use - Sustained Yield Act recognizes that designation of areas of National Forest land for Wilderness is compatible with the.concepts of multiple use and sustained yield. The Wilderness Act and appropriate Secretary's Regulations provide specific definitions and guidelines for the review of Primitive Areas for possible inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System and for the designation of areas as Wilderness which are not now in Primitive Area status. The Forest Service, USDA, has reviewed the Uncompahgre and Wilson Mountains Primitive Areas and certain contiguous lands for their suitability or non - suitability as Wilderness under the criteria established by the Wilderness Act. These criteria specify that a Wilderness must be an area of undeveloped Federal land, retaining primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected so as to preserve its