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Black C~nyon plan nixed by parks chief By Adriel BeUelheim Den~ar POSt WashmglOO Bureau WASHINGTON - An ongoing effort to designate the Black Can- yon of the Gunnison a national park failed to win the endorsement of the head of the National Park Service yesterday. Park Service Director Roger Kennedy called the celebrated canyon near Montrose "a national treasure" but voiced concerns about legislation proposed by Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell. D-Colo.. to upgrade its status from a na- tional monument and dictate some land-use issues. Campbell in July introduced a bill that would confer national park status on the canyon but also establish a "national conservation area" on thE:' canvon's rims where ranching and hun'ling w(Juld be al- lowed. Campbelfs effort is unusual be- cause it advocates "multiple use" options on park lands tbat are nor- mally olf-Iimits to activities sucb a.. liVestock grazing, Kennedy said be favors expanding the canyon's present boundaries but opposes Congress direcling bow the land will be used. "If the Con&!"!ss say~ 'Tbou shall call it a park andthou shall allow tbese activities to OCCur in it,' then we oppose that," Kennedy said. "We would say if it's going be a park, be a park. We would want to be clear about lhaL" Tbe National Park Sen'ice has several different designations for areas that are off-limits to devel- opment The only national parks in Colorado are Rocky Mountain and Mesa Verde. Areas like the Dino- saur, Colorado and Great Sand Dunes national monuments are subject to more limited restric- tions. Campbell, in introducing the bill, said Congress has the final say in outlining how the land is to be used. .. Americans are demanding more - not less - protected re- sources for recreation and sight- seeing. But Congress decides what qualifies ;or national park status, and J believe that Black Canyon I I " , does." ~-- fh.:!/f'y ( , His bill also would designate the lower Gunnison Gorge a wild and scenic river and encompass the up- stream Curecanti system of reser- voirs as a National Recreation Ar- ea. A Campbell spokeswoman said yesterday the first. term senator introduced the bill in hopes of gel- ting feedback from officials like Kennedy and Colorado residents. The hilI isn't expected to receiVe a hearing before Congress adjourns this year. Separately, Kennedy said Ihe Park SerVice is ready to undertake a previously reported reorganiza_ tion that will cut 1,300 jObs depart- ment-wide and transfer much power (mm its WaShington head- quarters to park superintendents. r 0111'/77