2009-01-20

Senate Approves 2 Million Acres for Wilderness. By Zachary Coile, SanFranChron, January 16, 2009. "The Senate approved a major expansion of wilderness areas nationwide Thursday, protecting more than 2 million acres of public land from drilling, logging and mining, including 735,000 acres across California. The 73-21 vote was a huge victory for conservationists, who persuaded Senate leaders to roll 160 wilderness bills into one giant package. The bill would permanently protect lands in nine states, from the Eastern Sierra Nevada in California to Oregon's Mount Hood and from Utah's Zion National Park to the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia. The package now heads to the House for final passage, but its sponsors said the Senate's lopsided passage will help smooth the way. It could be the first environmental bill that Barack Obama signs as president."

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