Number: 1975-31
WHEREAS, in recent years the values of public domain lands have soared far beyond the present filing fee of 25¢ per acre; and
WHEREAS, these desert and semi-arid lands are becoming of increasing value as habitat for wildlife and domestic livestock; and
WHEREAS, these lands are significant in the economics of communities for wildlife, recreational, and aesthetic purposes, values which increase as the populations of western states grow because of industrial expansion and other reasons; and
WHEREAS, most entries will require deep water wells for irrigation purposes if these desert lands are “proven up”;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual convention assembled March 14-16, 1975, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hereby reiterates its firm conviction that natural resource or public domain lands should be retained under ownership of the United States for management in accordance with multiple use-sustained yield principles as authorized by an organic act for the Bureau of Land Management; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation request that the Secretary of the Interior impose a moratorium on desert land entries until an organic act is enacted for the Bureau of Land Management or the Desert Land Entry Act is repealed.