The Department of the Interior has
delayed for a third time its deadline for resolving a dispute over
an outdated law known as R.S. 2477. In 1866, it granted
rights-of-way to rural counties for roadbuilding across public
lands in the West. When it was repealed in 1976, pre-existing
claims were grandfathered in, creating a flurry of claimstaking
around the West. The original closing date for comments was Sept.
30, 1994, but controversy surrounding the issue led to two
extensions (HCN, 12/26/94). Department of Interior spokesperson
Stephanie Hanna said the latest delay is a response to several new
members of Congress who wanted more time to become acquainted with
the issue. In addition, she says, an appeals case pending in Alaska
has implications for the rights-of-way debate in the Southwest. A
group based in Salt Lake City, the Coalition to Protect Public
Access Rights, hailed the latest delay as a victory. But
environmentalists, including Terri Martin of the National Parks and
Conservation Association, say the issue is not about access to
public lands. “What these folks want is to take control of our
national parks and public lands by claiming unqualified ownership
of virtually every vehicle track that crosses them,” Martin says.
To comment – again – write Director, BLM, Room 5555, Main Interior
Building, 1849 C St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240.
*Ross
Freeman
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline R.S. 2477 detoured again.
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