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<br />..1.L>":I:.0 <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />various areas. I have pointed out to the Board <br />that we have numerous areas in Colorado already <br />that are under the jurisdiction of the Forest <br />Service and perform the very same thing that this <br />Wilderness group is trying to perform. The main <br />difference is, that if this Wilderness Council is <br />set up, it removes the areas from any semblance <br />of local control. You set up an agency in Wash- <br />ington. Now at the present time the Secretary <br />of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture <br />are charged with the administration of these <br />forests. Nevertheless, we can go out here to a <br />regional forester and we can present a problem, <br />say we want to build a reservoir in a certain <br />locality even though it is in a wilderness area <br />and he will say all right, you can or you can't and <br />sometimes he says you can't. When he says you <br />can't that's just exactly what he means. How- <br />ever, he will survey the area, he will have his <br />men look it over, and if he determines that you <br />are not destroying the area or that you are im- <br />proving it, he will let you go ahead with these <br />multiple uses. <br /> <br />Under this present bill, these multiple <br />uses - they pay lip service to them but they are <br />out, they are just simply out, because only the <br />President can allow them then and only if they <br />are a matter of national interest. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Colorado cattle or Colorado dams are not a <br />matter of national interest so you, in effect, <br />have destroyed the multiple use of the forest. <br />The economy in Colorado would be terrifically <br />effected if this bill was to pass and as I say, <br />it accomplishes no useful purpose. Ail the rights <br />that they now demand in this bill can be exercised <br />by our Forest Service. Generally speaking, <br />people in the United States have had a lot of con- <br />fidence in the Forest Service. But these people <br />now want to set the Forest Service aside and say <br />here, we'll handle this matter in Washington, D. <br />C. You are no longer competent to look after your <br />own areas. <br /> <br />I have discussed the matter with Forest <br />Service officials, the Regional Forester and <br />other people who have dedicated their lives to <br />the preservation of our national forests and with- <br />out exception, they are opposed to this legislation. <br />