Each Federal agency administering any area designated as wilderness is responsible for preserving the character of the area. Wilderness areas shall be devoted to the public purposes of recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historic use. USGS cooperation with the Department of Agriculture is required to plan surveys of National Forests to determine the mineral value of wilderness areas. Excludes most commercial enterprise ans road building in the system. This part expands upon the authorization of special use activities in National Forest areas, as expanded upon in 36 CFR Part 261.
Attention is given to application procedures as well as terms and conditions.
This regulation is mainly devoted to listing various prohibitions applicable to acts on National Forest Lands. Some of these actions may be permitted with a special-use authorization. The regulation should be checked for a detailed listing of prohibitions. In order to meet the public purposes of recreation, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical uses of National Forest Wilderness, guidelines are given to establish, modify or eliminate sites. Further guidance is presented on mineral leases and permits, stressing that all mineral laws apply to National Forest Wilderness.