On May 1, 2009 U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich visited the Manzano Wilderness Study Area.
Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) are roadless areas that have been inventoried and found to have wilderness characteristics as described in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Wilderness Act of 1964. FLPMA directed the BLM to identify its roadless areas and study them for their suitability for preservation as Wilderness. At the end of the study, BLM was required to provide a recommendation as to the suitability or non-suitability of each of those areas. WSAs are managed so as not to impair their suitability for preservation as wilderness until Congress decides to permanently protect them as Wilderness, or release them from WSA status to non-wilderness uses. For more on WSAs, see:
www.blm.gov/nlcs/wsa/faq.htm