To the editor: I am myatified by certain aspect*

To the editor:

I am myatified by certain aspect* of the proposed exchange of land in Shenandoah National Park for private land held by Saddleback Associates. My mystification has to do with some amendments to Section 7.1-22 of the Code of Virginia which protects Virginia's right to reversion of Park land abandoned by the Park to the Commonwealth of Virginia. I believe the chronology of events has some importance.

In the spring of 1974 Saddleback Associates “approached the Park concerning their interest in exchanging some properties on Saddleback Mountain. The purpose of their proposal was to prohibit likely development of their property in such a manner as to effectively sever a portion of the Park from future public use." This proposal was not consummated.

In 1975 Section 7.1-22 of the Code of Virginia was amended by the addition of a paragraph, by which the “General Assembly of Virginia has authorized the United States to exchange away lands conveyed to it by the Commonwealth for Park purposes without its immediate reversion to the Commonwealth."

The “proposal, therefore, is to exchange the privately-owned north Saddleback Mountain Tract for various tracts of Parklands which, in total, are of equal dollar value."

“Again, in early 1976 a member of Saddleback Associates informed the Park that they were interested in disposing of their property in Saddleback Mountain, but were extremely reluctant to take any action which would lead to the development of the Saddleback property because of its adverse effect upon the Park. The Park agreed to enter into further explorations and suggested the possibility of exchanging several properties along the periphery of the Park."

“Two tracts of Federal land were selected for possible use in this equal value land exchange." ‘‘However, this option was discarded because Saddleback Mountain Associates, the owners of the north Saddleback Mountain tract, were not interested in obtaining either of these two tracts of Parkland. Therefore, other options were studied."

“After thorough deliberation by Park officials and the owners of the north Saddleback Mountain land, tracts 3, 4, 5, and 6 were selected for consideration for the land exchange.” "As a result of these studies, we are considering trading four tracts of U. S. Government land totaling approximately 405 acres for 442 acres of the SaddlebaMc tract." "

Alsojn 1976, Section 7.1-22 of the Code of Virginia was amended to delete the paragraph added in 1975. It remains deleted in 1978. There is. I believe, no basis in the Code for Virginia to relinquish its reversion rights in Parkland.

Now , on what basis of Virginia law does the Park propose to transfer Park land from the National Park System to private individuals, bypassing the right of the State of Virginia to reversion?

Are the Park Administration and Saddleback Associates land hunting in Virginia with a suspended license?

A. STAN LEY THOMPSON All quotations are from Environmental Assessment, I .and Exchange. Shenandoah National Park. Luray. Virginia, March 1978. pages 1 7 to 22.