Laserfiche WebLink
<br />0004G7 <br /> <br />requested national designation because they are reluctant <br />to participate in the Federal system. Of the States we <br />reviewed, two SLates requested natiJnal designation for <br />Stat.e-administered rivers; one was formally denl2d and th2 <br />other was discouraged from seeking national designation. <br /> <br />~~~~~~_~~~ar!lci~~~~g_in nati~~~! <br />~i~~~~_~~_~~~~~~~~ <br /> <br />A basic premise of th~ wild and Scenic Rivers Act is <br />that the States and their political subdivisions should <br />become active partners in developing the national system. <br />The act specifically encourages the addition of State wild <br />and scenic rivers to the ~ational system by providing that <br />upon request of the Guvernor rivers which the State legis- <br />lature has designated as wild, scenic, or recreational can <br />be considered for immediate national designation. <br /> <br />The Secretary of the Interiur determines if State rivers <br />meet the standards of the nation~l system. If State rivers <br />are included in the natio~al system, the States ~gst ~ssume <br />all man~gelnent resporl3ioilities and administrative cos~s. <br /> <br />Although the Congress envisioned a promInent State <br />role in the development of the national system, it cannot <br />legislate States to participate, nor can ,ederal agencies <br />control thE ?'.titude of private citizens in an area regard- <br />ing preser' . ion of a river. To date, State participation <br />in the natLC..al system has been mini;nal. Only five States-- <br />Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin--hav~ <br />~dded rivers to the national system through the stcretarial <br />designation proc~ss. Some 190 rivers are presently inclu- <br />ded in 26 Stdte-administered scenic river 3ystems or as <br />individual rivers. These 190 rivers have been recognized <br />as worthy of preservation by the various States and protec- <br />ted, in varying degrees, by State wild and scenic river <br />legislation. Many of these rivers might be eligihle for <br />oesignation into the national system; however; most States <br />have not sought national designation of their wild and <br />scenic rivers.. <br /> <br />~~te~_vi~~_~~ti~~~!_dezlg~ation~~ <br />Q..!~arJvantageous <br /> <br />States have been reluctant to partici~a~2 in ceveloping <br />the national system because national designation is believed <br />to be too costly. According to Interior officials, State- <br />ad~inistered rivers should be developed or at least be sub- <br />ject to an 2ctive program [or development before being <br /> <br />u <br />