In general principle, it applies to all lands owned by the federal government and to most state and county lands. Note, however, that specific policies applicable to wildlife refuges, parks, wilderness and similar special use areas follow later in this booklet.
Public lands are a perpetual trust to be administered for the long-range benefit of all people.
Local and other special interests should receive due consideration in the administration of public lands, but the overall public interest must be paramount, and special interests must not be allowed to exploit public lands or to gain vested rights to the public's resources. Any individual or group granted the privilege of special use of public lands should pay a reasonable fee for that privilege, based on fair market values, and should be held accountable for any abuse. There should be no mass transfer of public lands to private ownership or of federal lands to the states. The public lands should be managed so as to protect or enhance the resource base. Under the concepts of sustained yield and multiple use, public lands should be managed for a mix of purposes including watershed protection, soil and forest conservation, wildlife habitat improvement, wilderness and outdoor recreation - as well as production of timber, livestock, minerals and other commodities.