Bill Could Restrict
Wilderness Lockaways

SALT LAKE CITY —(AP)— Environmental activist groups and federal land managers say a bill that would force decisions to be made on wilderness designation within 10 years could keep any land from being declared wilderness.

``It would create a timetable that would virtually guarantee wilderness areas would not be designated,'' Henri Bisson of the Bureau of Land Management was quoted as saying in a recent issue of the Deseret News.

Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, has introduced a bill that would impose a 10-year limit on the wilderness debate once federal land managers designate a piece of land a wilderness study area. If a decision is not made within that time period, the land would be released to multiple use, including mining and grazing.

Wilderness study areas are currently protected as wilderness until Congress makes a decision. Hansen said that gives environmental groups little incentive to negotiate to reduce how much land will be protected.

``Fringe environmental groups often oppose any resolution to the issue, preferring perpetual (wilderness study area) status over actual wilderness designation,'' Hansen told a hearing before the House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands.

But Bisson, BLM assistant director for renewable resources and planning, said Hansen's bill gives pro-development forces little reason to negotiate with environmentalists.

Instead, Bisson said, such groups and individuals could simply stall passage of any wilderness bill, hoping to open up all wilderness study areas to mining, grazing and logging.

``The delaying tactics of anti-wilderness interests will most likely be rewarded with the elimination of existing protection for (wilderness study areas),'' said William Meadows, president of the Wilderness Society.

President Clinton has already indicated he would likely veto the bill if it passes.

Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, supports the bill, and told the subcommittee on Thursday that the current method has hurt some of Utah's counties, where the wilderness debate has gone on for more than 25 years.

``The lack of resolution continues to drain the already limited resources of financially strapped counties throughout Utah,'' Cannon said. ``This issue drains millions of dollars and man-hours from our rural counties and continues to be the single most contentious issue for Utahns.''

Hansen argued the Federal Land Policy and Management Act would require environmental studies and reviews to protect sensitive areas against unwarranted development.

``The idea that land that is not wilderness is in grave danger of destruction is a misconception perpetuated by extreme environmental groups to create a sense of urgency to help their fund-raising efforts,'' Hansen said.