I think we are debating different things, I am asking whether this would be good for ND on a local level. You (gst) are saying you can not support it because nationally the designation has hurt some/most communities and is poorly managed. I can respect that. I agree with your opinion that the feds often don't manage things well. I don't believe that the designation in ND would hurt us more than it would benefit us. Thus I support it and accept the outcome.
I agree we won't have local management of this land if we turn it into wilderness. But if we wait for that to get fixed before we preserve this land we most likely will see it roaded and resources extracted. which means we didn't choose to preserve this land. It is a choice of the lesser of two evils. Poor management or wilderness lost.
Am I wrong? I took the partially grazing to mean part of the grazing lease is on and off the designated area but still inside of the LMNG. Meaning the area the cattle are free to roam spans onto and off of it. As in they are free to come and go from the wilderness area as they (the cattle) see fit.
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I just copied and pasted some relevant info that's being debated from the proposal
http://www.badlandsconservationalliance.org/prairie-legacy
[h=3]IF THE FOREST SERVICE IS ALREADY MANAGING THESE AREAS AS “SUITABLE FOR WILDERNESS”, WHY IS OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL WILDERNESS DESIGNATION NECESSARY?
Two reasons:
“Suitable for wilderness” is an administrative/management decision. It is a temporary protection with no permanence, is open to withdrawal, and is subject to national administration changes and political climate.
Secondly, fewer and fewer acres in the Grasslands are being protected from development. In the 1970’s, half of the Little Missouri National Grassland (500,000 acres) qualified for Wilderness designation. Today, less than 40,000 acres in four non-contiguous parcels are managed as “suitable for wilderness”. Only Wilderness designation will stop continual loss. [/h]
WHAT HUMAN ACTIVITIES OR PURSUITS ARE ALLOWED IN WILDERNESS?
Livestock grazing, hunting, non-commercial rock collecting, permitted guide services, hiking, camping, horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking, scientific study, mineral claims established prior to designation, bird watching, cross-country skiing, and snow shoeing are all permitted in Wilderness.
The Wilderness Actprohibitsuse of motorized/mechanical equipment and general access by motor vehicles and mechanical transport such as mountain bikes. However, the law makes exceptions for situations such as search and rescue operations, fire fighting to protect adjacent private lands, and insect and disease control. Grazing permittees are allowed to use motorized vehicles to rescue livestock; and the occasional use of motorized equipment, as necessary, is allowed to fix fences and maintain springs and livestock dams.
HOW IS COMMERCIAL LIVESTOCK GRAZING IMPACTED BY WILDERNESS?
Commercial livestock grazing, where established prior to Wilderness designation, shall be permitted in Wilderness. Maintenance of fences, livestock dams and springs is allowed, along with the occasional use of motorized equipment when necessary, in accordance with the 1980 Congressional Grazing Guidelines.
Congressional Grazing Guidelines
FROM HOUSE REPORT 96-617 OF THE 96TH CONGRESS, 1980
1. There shall be no curtailments of grazing in wilderness areas simply because an area is, or has been designated as wilderness, nor should wilderness designations be used as an excuse by administrators to slowly "phase out" grazing. Any adjustments in the numbers of livestock permitted to graze in wilderness areas should be made as a result of revisions in the normal grazing and land management planning and policy setting process, giving consideration to legal mandates, range condition, and the protection of the range resource from deterioration.
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Duckslayer100 I've been here since May 15' and am a founding member. Just because I don't open my mouth as often as some doesn't mean I am ignorant of the way things "work" around here.
