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Some WSAs are managed in exactly the same manner as wilderness areas, a specific government designation and not synonymous with the natural state of wilderness. Some areas permit activities that are generally excluded from wildernesses, such as
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On BLM lands, a WSA is a roadless area that has been inventoried (but not designated by
Congress) and found to have wilderness characteristics as described in Section 603 of the
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federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, and managed to preserve its natural conditions. The
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Wilderness bills often include so-called "release language" that eliminates WSAs not selected for wilderness designation.
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Naturalness – generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature rather than human activity
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Opportunities – provides outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined types of recreation
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As of 2023, there are 487 BLM wilderness study areas with a total area of 11,118,496 acres (4,499,496 ha).
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Size – roadless areas of at least 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) of public lands or of a manageable size
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Congress decides whether to designate them as wilderness and include in the
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Wilderness and
Wilderness Study Areas, Bureau of Land Management
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The
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 As Amended
179:"Wilderness Areas and Wilderness Study Areas Summary Table"
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of 1964. Wilderness Study Area characteristics are:
36:Sutton Mountain BLM Wilderness Study Area, Oregon
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52:(BLM) manages wilderness study areas under the
28:Slinkard BLM Wilderness Study Area, California
69:Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976
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245:Federal protected areas in the United States
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181:. Bureau of Land Management. December 2023
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154:"Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas"
62:National Wilderness Preservation System
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54:National Landscape Conservation System
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382:Protected areas of the United States
134:Protected areas of the United States
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20:Map of BLM Wilderness Study Areas.
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124:National forest (United States)
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119:List of wilderness study areas
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261:Estuarine Research Reserves
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44:(WSA) contains undeveloped
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56:to protect their value as
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158:Bureau of Land Management
50:Bureau of Land Management
301:Outstanding Natural Area
281:Lakeshores and seashores
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71:and Section 2(c) of the
356:Wilderness Study Areas
346:Wild and Scenic Rivers
326:Research Natural Areas
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42:wilderness study area
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286:Marine Sanctuaries
256:Conservation Areas
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296:Natural Landmarks
129:Natural landscape
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361:Wildlife Refuges
351:Wilderness Areas
321:Recreation Areas
276:Historical parks
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198:External links
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336:Scenic Areas
183:. Retrieved
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161:. Retrieved
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185:10 December
163:11 December
99:off-roading
271:Grasslands
58:wilderness
316:Preserves
291:Monuments
114:Landscape
376:Category
311:Parkways
108:See also
266:Forests
331:Rivers
306:Parks
140:Notes
187:2023
165:2023
97:and
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40:A
237:e
230:t
223:v
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.