OCR Text |
Show Spraying for insect control could have serious consequences, from the standpoint of ecological balance and adverse effect on animals and the human population. fishing, and other leisure time pursuits, there will be increased threats to the environment unless we take strong steps now to avoid them. Elsewhere in this report, we have pointed out the fact that trespass control has been difficult, and we recommend that statutory authority for policing Federal lands be granted to those agencies, such as the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, not now having such authority. We believe that the knowledge that the law makes the user liable to restore damaged areas, and that the agency having responsibility has policing authority, will in itself act to curb abuse of the environment. In any event, the new policing authority will provide the United States with a tool that it does not now have in the apprehension of vandals and others who cause environmental disturbance. Environmental Rehabilitation Recommendation 26: Public land areas in need of environmental rehabilitation should be inventoried and the Federal Government should undertake such rehabilitation. Funds should be appropriated as soon as practical 86 for environmental management and rehabilitation research. Past activities on the public lands have resulted in lowered environmental quality in many places. As indicated above, there have been many causes for the degradation. It is impracticable, except where contract provisions have been violated, to try now to seek out those responsible and ask them to effect rehabilitation. Nonetheless, it is essential that damage to the environment be corrected, and we recommend that actions be taken to restore or rehabilitate such areas. The first step in this direction is an inventory of all instances of lowered environmental quality generated by past uses of the public lands. Concurrently with the inventory, we recommend an immediate accelerated program of research into the procedures and methods of maintaining and restoring environmental quality on the public lands. We found that such efforts have been virtually nonexistent in the past. Because some adverse impacts have occurred, and more will occur if management practices are not improved, research is essential without delay. In considering legislation for this purpose, Con- |