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<br />000244 <br /> <br />the Congressionally stated pu rpose of national parks, a <br />park contains lands falling into three or more of these <br />classes. <br /> <br />Classes and II identify the lands reserved for VIsItor <br />accommodations (both existing and proposed), for administrative <br />facilities, formal campgrounds, two-way roads, etc., of varying <br />intensities. Class I and II lands occupy relatively little space in any <br />of the national parks. <br /> <br />Class III identifies the "natural environment areas." As the name <br />of the category implies, these are "natural environment" lands. <br />These lands are important to the proper preservation, <br />interpretation, and management of the irreplaceable resources of <br />the National Park System. These irreplaceable resources are <br />identified in Class IV, V, and VI categories of lands. It is the <br />existence of unique features (Class I V), or primitive lands, <br />including wilderness (Class V), or historical or cultural lands (Class <br />VI) in combination with a suitable environment (Class III) and <br />with sufficient lands "for the accommodation of visitors" (Classes I <br />and II) that distinguish natural and historical areas of the National <br />Park System from other public lands providing outdoor recreation. <br /> <br />In the natural areas (national parks and national monuments of <br />scientific significance), Class III lands often provide the <br />"transition" or "setting" or "environment" or "buffer" between <br />intensively developed portions of the park or monument (Classes I <br />and II) AND (a) the primitive or wilderness (Class V) areas; and <br />(b) the unique natural features (Class IV) or areas of historic or <br />cultural significance (Class VI) when these two categories exist <br />outside of the Class V lands. <br /> <br />In the historical areas (the administrative policies for which are <br />included in a separate booklet), the "environmental" lands (Class <br />III) serve a similar role in providing the "setting" or "atmosphere" <br />essential to preserving and presenting the national significance of <br />historic properties included in the National Park System. <br /> <br />Often, Classes III and V lands both represent significant natural <br />values. Generally, these values are different in type, quality, or <br />degree. Accordingly, lands having natural values that do not meet <br />Service criteria for primitive or wilderness designation may be <br /> <br />6 <br />