KUER Local News
(2011-06-01)
LARAMIE, WYO.
(wpr) -
The Obama Administration has backed away from its controversial Wild Lands policy issued in late December. That policy affirmed the Bureau of Land Management's responsibility to protect wilderness on public lands -- and it provoked strong negative reactions from the energy industry and from a number of Western governors, including Wyoming Governor Matt Mead. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today said he would shelve the Wild Lands policy. The Wyoming Outdoor Council's Bruce Pendery says that doesn't necessarily constitute a full retreat on the issue. "In reality, BLM is still going to be making decisions about wilderness," he said. "That hasn't changed one bit. Hopefully, even if it will look a little different and not have this grandiose term of "Wild Lands," there still will be decision making that will help protect some of these areas."
Salazar's memo says that the Department of the Interior will not designate any areas as Wild Lands. Instead the department will seek input from state and local officials and others about lands that might be appropriate for Congressional protection. © Copyright 2012, wpr
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