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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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President Obama OKs Horse Packing Trips in Sierra

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Monday, June 11, 2012   

Summer horse packing trips in the Sierra are back on.

President Obama has signed legislation that authorizes the National Park Service to continue to issue permits to commercial packers in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.

Alan Hill, public liaison chairman for Back Country Horsemen of America, says a ban would have been devastating for dozens of businesses and their customers.

"The impact economically would have been tragic, but also all those people who made reservations for years in advance would not have been able to access the wilderness - let alone camp - for the period of time they had in the past."

The permits were put on hold earlier this year after a San Francisco judge ruled the Park Service was violating the federal Wilderness Act because it had not addressed use of commercial stock in wilderness areas. The legislation gives the Park Service three years to complete a management plan that will address the issue.

Hill says the commercial packers work hard to ensure that the wilderness areas' integrity is maintained.

"There's all kinds of provisions that people take to 'pack up what they pack in' to maintain the pristine nature of these beautiful backcountry wilderness areas."

Sally Miller, a Wilderness Society regional conservation representative, says horses have been used in Sequoia-Kings Canyon for the past century and that the legislation allows that tradition to continue for people from all walks of life.

"They allow the elderly, multi-generational families, disabled veterans and the physically challenged to experience and enjoy these beautiful public lands, as well as those who would just prefer to hire a professional guide to help them enjoy these wilderness areas."

Miller says the legislation was a bipartisan effort that was supported by a broad group of conservation and recreation organizations, as well as businesses.

More information is online at wilderness.org.


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