More than 3.3 million acres of public lands in Arizona gained permanent protection as part of a sweeping bill that passed the House on Wednesday and now goes to the president for his expected signature. After years of congressional wrangling, the House passed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act by a vote of 285-140.
Most Republicans opposed the legislation because it will lock away vast expanses of land in other states from development and restrict hunting, fishing and energy exploration.
The legislation designates more than 2 million acres of wilderness in nine other states and establishes or expands several national parks. Some of the largest protected areas include California's Sierra Nevada, Oregon's Mount Hood, Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park and some of the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia. |