16 U.S.C. § 3101 : US Code - Section 3101: Congressional statement of purpose

Search 16 U.S.C. § 3101 : US Code - Section 3101: Congressional statement of purpose

(a) Establishment of units
In order to preserve for the benefit, use, education, and
inspiration of present and future generations certain lands and
waters in the State of Alaska that contain nationally significant
natural, scenic, historic, archeological, geological, scientific,
wilderness, cultural, recreational, and wildlife values, the units
described in the following titles are hereby established.
(b) Preservation and protection of scenic, geological, etc., values
It is the intent of Congress in this Act to preserve unrivaled
scenic and geological values associated with natural landscapes; to
provide for the maintenance of sound populations of, and habitat
for, wildlife species of inestimable value to the citizens of
Alaska and the Nation, including those species dependent on vast
relatively undeveloped areas; to preserve in their natural state
extensive unaltered arctic tundra, boreal forest, and coastal
rainforest ecosystems; to protect the resources related to
subsistence needs; to protect and preserve historic and
archeological sites, rivers, and lands, and to preserve wilderness
resource values and related recreational opportunities including
but not limited to hiking, canoeing, fishing, and sport hunting,
within large arctic and subarctic wildlands and on freeflowing
rivers; and to maintain opportunities for scientific research and
undisturbed ecosystems.
(c) Subsistence way of life for rural residents
It is further the intent and purpose of this Act consistent with
management of fish and wildlife in accordance with recognized
scientific principles and the purposes for which each conservation
system unit is established, designated, or expanded by or pursuant
to this Act, to provide the opportunity for rural residents engaged
in a subsistence way of life to continue to do so.
(d) Need for future legislation obviated
This Act provides sufficient protection for the national interest
in the scenic, natural, cultural and environmental values on the
public lands in Alaska, and at the same time provides adequate
opportunity for satisfaction of the economic and social needs of
the State of Alaska and its people; accordingly, the designation
and disposition of the public lands in Alaska pursuant to this Act
are found to represent a proper balance between the reservation of
national conservation system units and those public lands necessary
and appropriate for more intensive use and disposition, and thus
Congress believes that the need for future legislation designating
new conservation system units, new national conservation areas, or
new national recreation areas, has been obviated thereby.