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Livestock Grazing 



One of the little-understood provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964 is that live- 

 stock grazing is allowed in designated wilderness areas. The act's specific language 

 was further clarified by Congress in the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1980. The com- 

 mittee report (H.R. 96-17) contains guidelines which the Forest Service has since 

 incorporated into its wilderness management policy: "The legislative history of this 

 language is very clear in its intent that livestock grazing, and activities and the nec- 

 essary facilities to support a livestock grazing program, will be permitted to contin- 

 ue in National Forest wilderness areas, when such grazing was established prior to 

 classification of an area as wilderness." 



This report specifies that wilderness designation cannot be used as an excuse to 

 reduce or phase out grazing. Grazing levels may be allowed to increase if there 

 would be "no adverse impact" on wilderness values; however, no new permits can 

 be issued. New improvements such as fences and water developments are permissi- 

 ble, but should be aimed at protecting resources, rather than increasing grazing 

 levels. Livestock permittees cannot be compelled to use natural materials in the 

 construction of facilities, if doing so would impose "unreasonable" costs. Mainte- 

 nance of existing facilities is allowed. 



Wilderness designation can benefit a livestock operation by eliminating conflicts 

 between off-road vehicles and livestock, including vandalism, open gates, and har- 

 assment and theft of livestock. 



Off-road Vehicles 



Off-road vehicles (ORVs), which include four-wheel-drive pickup trucks, three- and 

 four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, and trail bikes, are commonly used 

 in the Black Hills. Off-road vehicle users often ask why their form of recreation is 

 not allowed within designated wilderness areas. Vehicles are essentially incompati- 

 ble with wilderness, and conflict with other users. When an ORV intrudes into a 

 wild place, the solitude sought by the visitor on foot or horseback is lost as the natu- 

 ral silence is suddenly shattered. Wildlife serenity is similarly disrupted. 



Physical resource damage is another reason why ORVs are not permitted in wil- 

 derness areas. When operated off of established roads, ORVs can destroy fragile 

 soils, break off delicate rock ledges, erode stream banks at stream crossings, destroy 

 plants and adversely affect animals, and leave unsightly tire tracks. The damage 

 from such vehicle use is often irreparable. 



Mineral Resources 



The leasing, claiming or sale of Federal mineral resources is prohibited in wilder- 

 ness areas. However, valid existing claims can be developed, as long as the surface 

 of the land is restored as near as practicable afier mining. A few of the areas in the 

 Black Hills Wilderness Proposal have had historic mining activity located in or near 

 them. 



Sand Creek is located just northwest of the Tinton area, where active mining still 

 occurs. The Sand Creek roadless area, however, appears to be outside the area of 

 heavy mineralization. Only one patented mining claim is located in the area. Some 

 uranium exploration and mining has occurred in the Pilger Mountain area, al- 

 though none recently. Pegmatite and high quality limestones are also known to 

 occur in some of the areas, but these are common in many parts of the Black Hills. 



