H.R. 803: “Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public
Lands Act Passes House”
The bill will create
over 3 million acres of public land into Wilderness there by denying
access to millions of American Citizens.
Following is more information on each of
the eight individual bills approved Feb 26, 2021 as part of the broader
package: Read the Bill: HR
803 Learn More http://www.amlands.org/6652/index.html The Colorado Wilderness Act –
protects 660,000 acres in Colorado. Originally sponsored by DeGette, the
Colorado Wilderness Act will protect more than 660,000 acres in 36 areas
across Colorado. Unlike
many of Colorado’s
high-elevation landscapes that Congress has protected under previous
land-protection bills, DeGette’s Colorado Wilderness Act seeks to protect
more of the state’s mid- and low-elevation areas that often serve as
critical habitats for a variety of plants and wildlife – and often serve
as ideal locations for a wide-range of outdoor recreation activities.
While more than two-thirds of the areas included in DeGette’s bill are
already being treated as wilderness areas – including Handies
Peak, Dolores
River Canyon
and Little Bookcliffs – DeGette’s legislation would provide them the
permanent protection they deserve. More information DeGette’s
Colorado
Wilderness bill is available here.
The CORE Act – protects 400,000 acres in Colorado. Originally introduced by U.S. Rep.
Joe Neguse (D-CO), the legislation would protect
400,000 acres to support the state’s multi-billion-dollar recreation
economy. (H.R.
577)
The Grand Canyon Protection Act – protects 1 million acres in Arizona. Originally introduced by Rep. Raul Grijalva
(D-AZ) the legislation would permanently withdraw more than 1 million
acres of federal land north and south of Grand Canyon National Park from
eligibility for any future mining claims and leaves valid existing claims
intact. Local stakeholders agree that uranium deposits in this part of
Northern Arizona should not be mined for fear of contaminating the Grand Canyon or the seeps and springs in the region.
(H.R.
1052)
The Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working
Forests Act – protects 306,500 acres in Northwest
California. Originally introduced by
U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA),
the legislation would expand nine
existing wilderness areas in Northwest
California and establish eight new ones. It would also add
480 river miles to the National Wild and Scenic River System. (H.R.
878)
The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act – protects 287,500
acres in Central California. Originally introduced by Rep. Salud
Carbajal (D-CA), the legislation
would create two new potential wilderness areas and two new
scenic areas in the Los Padres National Forest
and Carrizo Plain National
Monument. It would also create a 400-mile
hiking trail to connect the wilderness areas in the southern and
northern portions of the Los
Padres National
Forest. (H.R. 973).
The San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection
Act – protects 139,700 acres in Southern California. Originally introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), the legislation would expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, establish a new
National Recreation Area, and designate approximately 30,659 acres
as wilderness. It would also add approximately 45.5 river miles
to the National Wilde and Scenic Rivers System. (H.R.
693).
The Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act – protects
191,000 acres in Southern California. Originally introduced by Rep. Adam
Schiff (D-CA), the legislation would
expand the existing Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by
adding 191,000 acres of the Rim of the Valley Corridor. (H.R.
1075).
The Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act –
protects 131,900 acres in Washington
State. Originally introduced by Rep. Derek
Kilmer (D-WA), the legislation would
designate 126,544 acres on the Olympic Peninsula
as wilderness and another 5,346 as potential wilderness. It
would be the first new wilderness designation in Olympic
National Forest in nearly 30 years and would add more
than 460 river miles to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers
Systems. (H.R.
999).