60 



JUN 30 \9Sl 



STATEMENT OF ROBERT F. BURFORD, DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, 

 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS, NATIONAL 

 PARKS AND FORESTS, COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, UNITED STATES 

 SENATE, ON S. 59, ENTITLED THE "NATIONAL FORESTS AND PUBLIC LANDS OF NEVADA 

 ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 1987". 



I appreciate the opportunity to appear before the Subcommittee today 'to 

 discuss the Department of the Interior's position on S. 59. 



We could support enactment of S. 59 If it were amended to include more 

 States. We have substantial concerns with S. 59 as currently drafted. We 

 strongly suggest that the bill include a larger geographic region so that the 

 purposes of the bill — economical and efficient management and improved 

 service to the public — are accomplished. We also suggest that the bill 

 Include certain provisions that are identified in the Administration's 

 Nationwide Interchange Bill for the proper transition and administration of 

 specific lands designations. We believe the best opportunity to achieve the 

 goals of the interchange program for overall dollar savings and administrative 

 efficiency is through enactment of a nationwide proposal. Individual State 

 legislation would fall far short of the savings and efficiencies generated by 

 a single nationwide bill. 



The largest single factor In calculating the savings was the reduction of 

 overhead and administrative personnel that would be made possible by 

 consolidating the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service offices and 

 reducing the total number of offices. Our research indicates that no 

 slgoif leant savings would be realized with enactment of S. 59 in the short or 

 long terms. In fact, the costs of distributing records, case files, 

 establishing the new boundaries, and the confusion inherent in these actions, 

 would likely result in significant added costs, with little or no savings or 

 improvement in public service* 



