Parks, Open Spaces & Wild Places Campaign News

Washington, DC - Today, the 111th Congress voted, 285-140, to send the bipartisan public lands bill to President Obama’s desk.  It protects close to two million acres of wilderness in nine states, which will comprise the largest expansion of the National Wilderness Preservation System in 15 years.  The Omnibus Public Land Management Act (S. 22) is a package of more than 160 bills, including the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Act and Lewis and Clark Mt. Hood Wilderness Act.  President Obama has indicated that he will sign the bill into law.

Continuing in the preservation-minded tradition of his predecessor, freshmen Congressman Erik Paulsen voted in favor of the bill. 

“We extend great thanks and gratitude members like Congressman Paulsen and to leadership in both the House and the Senate that understood the importance of protecting these lands for all Americans to enjoy,” said Monique Sullivan, Advocate with Environment Minnesota.

Environment America has worked to advance several pieces of the larger package of bills.  The Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Act, originally sponsored by former Senator Salazar, will give the iconic park the strongest protections provided by the federal government.  The Lewis and Clark Mt. Hood Wilderness Act will protect an area of Oregon’s natural landscape visited by 4 million people every year.  Lastly, Environment America has worked to establish the National Landscape Conservation System, so that the 26 million acres included in the system, such as Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument, will be protected and preserved.

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Environment America is a federation of state-based, citizen-funded environment groups working for clean air, clean water, and open space.  www.environmentamerica.org.  Environment Minnesota is a member of the Environment America federation.