WYO Range Legacy Act Lands on the President’s Desk
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Daniel, WY – The last big hurdle has been cleared for the Wyoming Range Legacy Act, as part of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. Made up of more than 160 separate bills, including the Wyoming legislation, the omnibus legislation designates more than two million acres of new federally protected wilderness, nationwide.
The Legacy Act withdraws undeveloped land from future oil and gas leasing, while honoring or buying out current leases.
In Daniel, outfitter Gary Amerine founded the group Citizens Protecting the Wyoming Range when he saw that lands for hunting, fishing and camping on the Range were in a "forced retreat" from advancing oil and gas leasing. Many people warned him it would be impossible to obtain wilderness designation, he says.
"It just shows people - if they're sincere, and they have a legitimate concern - that you can get things done."
Amerine says government scientists have determined the area is hardly a hot spot for oil and gas.
"We're talking a very minimal amount of resource – a few hours' worth of oil and a couple weeks of natural gas. Is it really worth destroying an area?"
The Legacy Act was originally introduced by Wyoming's two senators. Its opponents have said limiting new oil and gas development could make the country more dependent on foreign fuel supplies.
The package of bills approved by Congress creates new wilderness areas in nine states, and President Obama has said he will sign it.
get more stories like this via email
United Nations experts are raising concerns about chemical giants DuPont and Chemours, saying they've violated human rights in North Carolina…
Social Issues
The long-delayed Farm Bill could benefit Virginia farmers by renewing funding for climate-smart investments, but it's been held up for months in …
Environment
Conservation groups say the Hawaiian Islands are on the leading edge of the fight to preserve endangered birds, since climate change and habitat loss …
Environment
April has been "Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month," but the pests don't know that. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it's the …
Health and Wellness
The 2024 Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium Public Conference kicks off Saturday, where industry experts and researchers will share the latest scientific …
Environment
Environmental groups say more should be done to protect people's health from what they call toxic, radioactive sludge. A court granted a temporary …