The Wilderness Act's Wilderness Definition

• Author: Gordon Steinhoff
• Pages: 223-230

223

Appendix 1

The Wilderness Act’s

Wilderness Definition

Scholars will question the account of the Wilderness Act’s denition of

wilderness given in Chapter 2. Typically, the Act’s wilderness denition

is interpreted as consisting of two denitions: one that denes ideal wil-

derness—untrammeled, man is a visitor who does not remain1—and a sec-

ond that expresses a distinct, more practica l conception of wilderness. ose

who accept the view that there are two denitions are by no means unied

in their exact interpretation. ere are important dierences of opinion con-

cerning the role the “ideal ” is to play. In Chapter 2, I argue that there is in

fact only one denition of wilderness, a seamless whole. According to the

Wilderness Act, managers are required to maintain a nd restore wilderness

character, which consists of those qua lities used to dene wilderness within

this one denition: untrammeled, natural conditions, natural appearance,

solitude, etc. e Wilderness Act mandates maintaining wilderness in its

untrammeled, natural conditions.

Let us consider this contentious issue in more detail. Rep. John P. Saylor

(R-Pa.) was a lead sponsor of the Wilderness Act as the bill was debated in the

U.S. Congress and passed into law. As mentioned in Chapter 2, Chad Daw-

son and John Hendee, and others, consider a statement made by Representa-

tive Saylor authoritative, as expressing congressional intent. Representative

Saylor’s statement reads as follows:

e rst [sentence] states the nature of wilderness in a n ideal concept of areas

where the natu ral community of life is untrammeled by man, who visits but

does not remain. e second sentence describes an area of wilderness as it is to

be considered for t he purposes of the act— areas where man’s works are sub-

stantially unnotic eable, where there is outstanding opportunity for solitude or

a primitive or unconned t ype of recreation....2

According to this statement, the two sentences in the Act’s wilderness deni-

tion express distinct conceptions of wilderness. ere are essentially two de-

1. 16 U.S.C. §1131(c).

2. Rep. John P. Saylor, 109 C. R. H21431 (88th Cong., 1st Sess., Nov. 7, 1963).