[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 79 (Monday, April 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9915]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 25, 1994]


                                                    VOL. 59, NO. 79

                                             Monday, April 25, 1994

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of General Counsel

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Solicitor

 

Water Rights Under the Wilderness Act

AGENCY: Office of General Counsel, Agriculture; Office of the 
Solicitor, Interior.

ACTION: Reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Departments of Agriculture and the Interior are extending 
until June 1, 1994 the period for public comment on a reevaluation of 
the Federal position on interpreting the Wilderness Act of 1964 in 
relation to water rights. The Departments had previously sought public 
comment until April 1, 1994. See 58 FR 68629 (December 28, 1993).

DATES: Comments are requested by June 1, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted to James Gilliland, General 
Counsel, Department of Agriculture, Room 107W, Administration Building, 
14th and Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250-1401, or to John 
D. Leshy, Solicitor, Department of the Interior, MS 6352, 1849 C St. 
NW., Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Gilliland, 202-720-3351, or John D. Leshy, 202-208-4423.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Departments of Agriculture and the 
Interior, in consultation with the Department of Justice, are 
undertaking to reexamine the position of their agencies not to file 
claims for water rights under federal law based upon congressional 
designation of federal lands as part of the National Wilderness 
Preservation System. Pending that reevaluation, a Department of the 
Interior Solicitor's Opinion reaching that conclusion (#M-36914 (Supp. 
III) (July 26, 1988), overruling a portion of Solicitor's Opinion M-
36914, 86 I.D. 553 (June 25, 1979), has been withdrawn, as has the 
concurrence of the Attorney General in the 1988 Opinion.
Bonnie L. Luken,
Deputy General Counsel, Department of Agriculture.

John D. Leshy,
Solicitor, Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 94-9915 Filed 4-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-17-M