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typ e of boats allowed on the river. Congress clearly intended the Forest Service not to 

 have such authority . On this river, use by float and powered craft was to be shared. 



Later, in promulgating rules under authority of section 10 of the Act, the Forest 

 Service gave itself authority to regulate type of river craft, doing an end-run around 

 Congressional intent. This regulatory authority was cited in justifying a management 

 plan decision to eliminate jet boats from part of the river, exactly as Senator Church 

 had predicted. 



Another indication of Congressional intent is found in a July 15, 1981 letter to the 

 Chief of the Forest Service, signed by Senators James A. McClure, Steven D. Symms 

 and (then) Congressman Larry E. Craig (attachment 4). Senator McClure was instru- 

 mental in obtaining passage of the Act in the Senate. Speaking of the newly released 

 management plan that excluded power boats from much of the wild river for the sum- 

 mer season, the letter said, "-we are disturbed that the Alternatives considered by the 

 Forest Service are not in harmony with the intent of the Hells Canyon National Recre- 

 ation Area Act." "The House Report states that restrictions would only come about 

 after careful consultation with public and private groups and agencies." "The Senate 

 Report stated that motorized boats are a valid use and "thereby allowed in the area"." 



Management Plans 



When the Forest Service completed its first version of the Comprehensive Manage- 

 ment Plan (CMP) in 1981, it attempted to eliminate power boating from the heart of 

 Hells Canyon for the entire primary recreation season, granting floaters exclusive use 

 of the river from Wild Sheep Rapid to Rush Creek Rapid. 



The plan's release was met with public outrage. The letter from McClure, Symms 

 and Craig referenced above (attachment 4) contains passages that tell the story quite 

 succinctly: 



"—we request you to withdraw your decision and review the available 

 alternatives for management of the National Recreation Area to address 

 specifically the following concems:-the Forest service states in its Final EIS 

 that its goals are.to minimize polarization between float and power boat uses 

 and to provide opportunities for commercial enterprises. The end result of the 

 Forest Service's decision is severe polarization between floaters and power 

 boaters. It has been estimated that the decision will result in the loss of 33 jobs 

 in the boat building industry, with an incalculable adverse impact on the support 

 industries that depend on the continued power boat usage.-It should be noted 

 that the Forest Service Planning Team urged jet boaters and floaters to devise a 

 compromise plan, and assured them that the restrictions adopted by the Forest 

 Service would not exceed those worked out in the compromise. Reluctantly, 

 the power boaters-negotiated such a compromise--. The Snake River was 

 suddenly withdrawn from their access, despite the fact there was no clear need 



