Laserfiche WebLink
<br />OOtJH3, <br /> <br />COMPTROLLER GENERI\L' S <br />REPOR1' TO TlfE r:ONGRESS <br /> <br />FEDERAL PROTECTIO~ AND <br />~RESERVATION OF WILD AND <br />SC~NIC RIVERS IS SLOW <br />MW COS1'LY <br /> <br />DIG EST <br /> <br />Efforts by the Departments of ~he Interior and <br />Agriculture to protect wild, scenic, and re- <br />creational rivers of the United States have <br />been excessively slow and costly. <br /> <br />'j <br />I <br />, <br />! <br />i <br />i <br />, i <br />i <br /> <br />A national policy to preserve selected ri~ ~s <br />in a free-flowinq condition and protect them <br />for the benefit ~nd enjoyment of present and <br />futu~e generations was established by the Wild <br />and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. (Sea p. 1.) <br /> <br />\\ <br />I' <br />~ <br /> <br />The' act designated eight rivers as components <br />of the national wild and scenic rivers system <br />and provided that it be expanded through (1) <br />legislation following studies of other wild <br />and sc~nic rivers conducted by Agriculture <br />and the Interior and (2) addition of State- <br />administered wild and scenic rivers. (See pp. <br />5 and 6.) <br /> <br />sLm~ PROGRESS IN DESIGNATItJG R!VERS <br />--------------- -- ~---- <br /> <br />But as of December 1977 only 11 rivers h~d <br />been added to the national system, although <br />58 rivers have heen identified. for congres- <br />sional study as potential additions and many <br />more, including state-administered rivers, <br />are potential additions (See p. 7.) <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />~ 1 <br /> <br />There are two important reaSOnS for t.he slow <br />progress: <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />--Federal agencies take an inordinate amount <br />of time--an average of more than 6 1/2 years <br />from congressional designation--to complete <br />the studies necessary cO assess a eiver's <br />eligibility for the n~tional system. (See <br />p. 10.) <br /> <br />--States have not opted to nominate Rtate- <br />administered rivers for protection and preser- <br />vation because national designation contributes <br />to increased river use, with attendant problems <br /> <br />IO_L~_~'''.~!- U:J:J-:1 n!'lll,':;l'/.:;l. f;-It' 1P,pt':1 <br />,&t..,;., Oi,l:/; ~.lw';!rtf tJ~ l'c~,~d t'i~I('::m. <br /> <br />i <br /> <br />CED-7B-% <br />