11/10/09

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Eighty-nine House members are asking Interior
Secretary Ken Salazar to protect 9.4 million acres of red rocks
lands in Utah while Congress works on legislation.

The letter was sent to Salazar on Tuesday. It also asks that he
rescind an agreement reached between the Bush administration and
the state of Utah that prevents the Bureau of Land Management from
designating new wilderness study areas. The designation discourages
uses of the land that might alter its natural character.

Rep. Maurice Hinchey, a New York Democrat sponsoring the Utah
wilderness bill, says a consensus has developed that millions of
acres within the states should be protected even if there remains
disagreement on how to do that.

The bill is opposed by the Utah congressional delegation.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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