What Activities Are Allowed In WSAs?
Until Congress makes its decision, Section 603 of FLPMA requires the BLM to protect the wilderness character of each WSA regardless of its recommendation. By policy, management of WSAs is generally less restrictive than management of Wilderness Areas, but activities that would impair wilderness suitability are prohibited. Examples of activities that are allowed in WSAs are: hunting, fishing and trapping under state and federal laws; rockhounding; travel with motorized vehicles on most existing routes; camping, hiking and horseback riding; staking mining claims and prospecting by the public, without use of mechanized earth moving equipment, explosives or the use of vehicles off existing routes. Existing mining and livestock grazing may continue in the “same manner and degree” as when FLPMA was passed. Some mineral lessees, mining claimants, or holders of right-of-ways have valid rights that must be honored, even if doing so impairs wilderness suitability. These activities must be conduc
