STATEMENT OF GEORGE NICKAS, Wilderness Watch

"George Nickas on Wilderness"
IMPLEMENTATION OF WILDERNESS ACT OVERSIGHT HEARING

EXPLORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1964 WILDERNESS ACT BY THE FOREST SERVICE, THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE APRIL 15, 1997--WASHINGTON, DC

STATEMENT OF GEORGE NICKAS, POLICY COORDINATOR, WILDERNESS WATCH

  Mr. NICKAS. Chairman Chenoweth, Congressman Kildee, we appreciate your staying around to hear this testimony. I am George Nickas, Policy Coordinator for Wilderness Watch. I appreciate the opportunity to provide our views on the management of our Nation's priceless wilderness heritage.

  Wilderness Watch is a national organization whose focus is the stewardship of lands within the national wilderness preservation system. We consider ourselves strict constructionists of the Wilderness Act. We do not seek to limit any rights explicitly granted in the law, nor do we attempt to find rights and privileges that don't exist in the legislation. Put another way, we believe the Wilderness Act means what it says.

  The president of our organization, Mr. Bill Worf, who is in attendance today, was the first head of wilderness management in the U.S. Forest Service. Bill was a member of the task force that drafted the regulations in 1964 that implemented the Wilderness Act, and he directed the development of the Forest Service Manual policy for the day-to-day management of wilderness on the national forests. The regulations and policy remain largely intact, and that is as it should be, since the intent of the Wilderness Act is remarkably clear.

  The issues discussed today aren't new. They were debated for 8 years leading to passage of the act, and in virtually every piece of wilderness legislation passed since that time. The complaints you have heard have nothing to do with overzealous managers or an unworkable law. Instead, for the most part, they represent the simple truth that some folks don't believe their personal use of the land should be restricted by wilderness designation, or who in some cases don't believe they should be bound by the law or held accountable for their actions. If we decide to grant exceptions for every special interest, we won't have a wilderness system.

  Wilderness management isn't easy. As the pressures from an increasing population accompanied by growing mechanization come to bear on the wilderness system, the need for strong leadership in the agencies and the unequivocal support from Congress are essential. What is needed most of all is a commitment from the management agencies to adhere to the letter of the law and to insist that wilderness users do likewise.

  The wilderness systems face significant challenges. Let me note just a few.

  Wilderness ecosystems are being dramatically altered by the introduction of exotic plant and animal species. In some cases the introductions have been unintentional, as is the case with many of the weeds that now proliferate along trails, at trail heads and other human impact sites. Sometimes, exotics are intentionally introduced. This is true in the case of non-native game and fish species. Commercial interests are being granted de facto private rights through camp site reservations and are allowed to routinely violate the Wilderness Act's prohibition on structures and installations. Despite a Federal court ruling that this policy violates the act, the Forest Service continues to sanction this practice in a number of wildernesses.

  Snowmobiles have become a major source of wilderness violations. The statistics are staggering. It is estimated there are thousands of violations in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness each year. Last year, there were 472 violations confirmed in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, only 7 perpetrators were caught and cited. Significant trespass problems exist in other wilderness areas, in Colorado, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and California. Even with a strong law enforcement effort, it is extremely difficult to catch most violators. Severe penalties are a necessary deterrent when the risk of getting caught is so low.

  Wilderness Watch applauds those wilderness managers who have had the courage and conviction to prosecute those who willfully violate the law. We also support and are participating in efforts to promote responsible riding and winter safety messages. We are convinced, however, that all the education in the world will do little to solve the problem without a strong law enforcement effort.

  In some wildernesses, aircraft overflights and landings have increased to the point where wilderness values are nonexistent in some places in some times of the year. Yet there is very little regulation or monitoring of this use, nor is there any effort to assess the impacts of this use on wilderness visitors or wildlife.

  Wilderness use is increasing while the number of wilderness rangers declines. Recreation use has increased continuously since the passage of the Wilderness Act. In the 54 original national forest wildernesses, visitation in 1994 was 86 percent higher than in 1965. It doesn't seem like very many people are being excluded. Clearly, Americans love their wilderness system and will continue to seek out its benefits in record numbers.

  At the same time record numbers are entering wilderness, the management agencies seem to be downsizing their seasonal wilderness ranger staffs. These rangers are the backbone of the wilderness protection effort. While the wilderness budget for the Forest Service has decreased for each of the past 2 years, the downsizing can't be explained by reduced budgets alone.

  Looking at a longer time line indicates that the amount of money spent on wilderness management doubled, after inflation, between 1987 and 1996. The bureaucracy is intact but the rangers are gone and with them the first line of wilderness defense.

  Americans are rightly proud of their wilderness heritage and the commitment they have made to secure it for future generations. Congress must see to it that the wilderness system is given the attention it deserves from land managers. Congress must also see to it that those managers who work to preserve the sanctity of wilderness and uphold the strict guidance in the Wilderness Act get the support they need. Thank you.

  Mrs. CHENOWETH. Thank you, Mr. Nickas.