05/07/08

DENVER (AP) _ A U.S. Senate committee has unanimously approved a
bill granting wilderness protection to nearly 250,000 acres of
Rocky Mountain Park.

The bill approved Wednesday by the Senate Energy and Natural
Resources Committee would not affect the Colorado Big Thompson
Project or the Grand River Ditch, which divert water across the
Continental Divide through the park.

The bill would not affect efforts to control a bark beetle
epidemic, fight wildfires or respond to other emergencies. It also
allows construction of a bike trail near Grand Lake.

The 266,000-acre park is 60 miles northwest of Denver. About
3,000 acres are currently designated as wilderness.

Senate sponsors are Republican Wayne Allard and Democrat Ken
Salazar, both of Colorado.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APNP-05-07-08 1504MDT<