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Show DIP FGUiGUJinQ Btoli I'Jildornoos '' The BLM Is reviewing and evaluating more than 3,000 comments received from the public nationwide concerning the bureau's proposed wilderness wild-erness study areas in Utah. On April 1, Gary Wicks, . BLM Utah State director, announced his proposals and started a 90 day public eom - merit period. He proposed to the public that out of the total areas in Utah intensive- ly inventoried by BLM, ap proximately 1,700,000 acres had wilderness characters tics and should'be identified for further wilderness study And that 3,200,000 acres should be dropped from the program. . After areas are formally identified as wilderness study areas, their natural resources and all possible land uses wilf be .studied to see which areas should be recommended for desig nation as wilderness areas The recommendations will be forwarded to the Sec. retary of the Interior and then to the President. The President must submit his recommendations to Cong, ress by October 21, 1993 Only Congress can desig! nate a wilderness area. During the study phase BLM will continue to seek public participation, in determining de-termining whether or not an areas most appropriate use is wilderness or whether other resource values should take precedence. |