Show Acquiring Private Lands The policy on acquisition of private lands within the National Forests of the Inter-mountain Region was clarified in a statement made today by Regional Forester Vern misunderstanding of the Forest Service position from some reports following the recent Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area hearing makes it desirable that the policy be better understood at this he contrary to some we are not opposed to needed and appropriate private land such as a golf and other public at Flaming favor such developments where they are compatible with the National Recreation Area we are strongly opposed to indiscriminate subdivision of land into small parcels and the construction of substandard buildings and other uncontrolled activities seriously degrade scenic values and cause basic Forest Service policy concerning private lands within the Region's 18 National Forests has and to rely primarily on the States and counties to assure that any private land development provides for adequate protection of the environment and the Hamre should ordinarily be accomplished through effective land use building and en by these local government only if these focal agencies are unable to prevent development which would adversely affect the environment will the Forest Service attempt to acquire the private lands within the National Forests for the protection of or other key public Forest Service land acquisition program is It is directed primarily to securing needed public access to National Forest System lands and to the acquisition of tracts essential for public recreation HAMRE pointed out that National Forest lands may be made under special use for private development of needed public recreation accommodations when suitable private is not available in an The and construction of such facilities must be in accordance with overall land use plans for the Such National Forest lands ordinarily are made available under competitive The successful bidder is given an appropriate lease to 30 for the ARE Hamre through close coordination and cooperation between the land and Forest the mountain lands of the Intermountain Region can be protected developed in an orderly manner to meet public will assure future generations the quality outdoor recreation experiences we now |