Management and Setting Prescriptions for Area with Wilderness Characteristics

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Working Draft 5/3/2010 Management and Setting Prescriptions for Areas with Wilderness Characteristics The following setting and management prescriptions are intended to protect the values associated with wilderness character including:naturalness, primitive recreation, solitude, scenic,wildlife habitat, riparian areas,cultural resources, economic benefits from recreation and desirability as a place to live, quality of life, custom/culture, and balanced use. Valid Existing Rights. Specific exemptions/allowances are made for prior-existing rights may continue. New discretionary uses that create valid existing rights are not allowed if they would detract from the wilderness values. Administrative Activities. New permanent roads will not be authorized. Administrative use authorizations will be granted on a case-by-case basis if it is: 1)compatible with the defined values or 2) necessary to administer and protect the lands with wilderness character and to protect the health and safety of persons within the area. Emergencies. Within areas managed to maintain wilderness characteristics, the use of motor vehicles and mechanical transport, and the construction of temporary roads, structures, and installations are allowed for emergency purposes, but must be conducted to achieve the least disturbance and reclaimed as soon as possible. Land Disposals, Rights-of-Ways(ROWs)and Use Authorizations,. • Lands with wilderness characteristics will be retained in public ownership. They will not be disposed through any means, including public sales, exchanges, patents under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, State selections or other actions(except where a vested right was established prior to October 21, 1976). • Prior existing rights, such as leases under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, leases/permits under 43 CFR 2920, and rights-of-ways(ROWs)may be renewed. • The BLM will acquire State and private inholdings when practicable. I n unique situations and subject to public review, exchanges may be made involving Federal and non-Federal lands when such action would significantly benefit that area's wilderness characteristics. • New authorizations, leases, or ROWs will not be authorized that are not compatible with the defined values. • Adequate access to inholdings that are compatible with the defined values would be authorized. Routes of Travel. • The construction of new permanent or temporary routes or roads will not be allowed. • Unauthorized travel off designated routes will not be allowed. • Motorized and mechanized routes will be minimized and restoration of unnecessary routes will be preformed to enhance and protect wilderness characteristics. Minerals. • Within areas managed to maintain wilderness characteristics, existing mining operations will be regulated using the 43 CFR 3809 regulations to prevent unnecessary and undue degradation of the lands. • Within areas managed to maintain wilderness characteristics, existing mineral leases represent a valid existing right. These rights are dependent upon the specific terms and conditions of each lease. Existing leases will be regulated through conditions of approval to prevent unnecessary or undue degradation. • Petition for withdrawal to the Secretary of the Interior to close these lands to mining laws for locatable exploration or development.