WASHINGTON, DC (April 18, 2007) -- With the approach of Earth Day, Senator Dick Durbin (IL) and Representative Maurice Hinchey (NY-22) will re-introduce America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act with widespread support in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Representative Hinchey was joined by 123 cosponsors. In the Senate, 15 Senators have cosponsored Senator Durbin’s bill.
First introduced by Utah Representative Wayne Owens and passed along to Representative Hinchey and Senator Durbin, the legislation will permanently protect some of the most magnificent public lands of the Colorado Plateau - including the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and critical wild lands adjacent to Zion National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. In total, this legislation would preserve over 9 million acres of Utah’s incomparable red rock canyonlands, pristine Mojave Deserts, and vast Basin and Range wilderness. This landscape is an iconic symbol of America’s western heritage that deserves protection.
America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act incorporates over two decades of field work, research, and documentation by conservationists and volunteers. In fact, this extensive field work has documented that 9 million acres of public land in the state clearly qualify as wilderness-quality lands with potential for permanent protection under federal law. America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act seeks to make this designation a reality by protecting these wildlands as federally designated wilderness.
"This bill would protect a natural treasure by designating a portion of Utah's spectacular red rock country as permanent wilderness," said Hinchey, who sits on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the House Natural Resources Committee. "These 9.4 million acres largely look the way they did millions of years ago -- no roads, no buildings, and no oil rigs -- and I intend to keep them that way. With so much development and sprawl all across our country, it is important that we preserve part of our country in its natural state so that this and future generations can enjoy some of the most splendid natural beauty that our country has to offer."
“I believe it is the responsibility of Congress to ensure that these fragile lands of magnificent beauty, which already belong to the public, do not fall victim to oil, gas and mining interests, increased commercial development, and proposals to construct roads, utility lines, and dams. We are the stewards of these creations and our legislation will help achieve this important goal,” Durbin said.
America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act would protect the unique opportunities to access and enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, sight-seeing, and many other recreational activities. Many of the activities that take place in lands protected by America’s Red Rock Wilderness help support the economies of nearby communities.
“Permanent protection of Utah’s unique wilderness-quality lands will help preserve the state’s most special places, creating an even more attractive place to live, work, and vacation,” said Wayne Hoskisson of the Sierra Club. “Wilderness designation also will help to promote smart growth in our communities, instead of allowing unmitigated development to destroy these delicate areas.”
The lands that would be protected by the act also boast some of the world’s richest concentrations of prehistoric ruins -- left by America's ancient Anasazi and other cultures -- and are home to at least two dozen endangered or sensitive wildlife species.
“By protecting this amazing landscape we can help preserve an array of wildlife, such as the Gila monster, desert tortoise, bald eagle, and peregrine falcon,” said Suzanne Jones of the Wilderness Society. “At the same, time the bill would help ensure that the region’s rich prehistory can remain unspoiled.”
Unfortunately, the pristine character of America’s Red Rock Wilderness is immediately threatened by a dramatic increase in oil and gas development, illegal road claims, as well as the exponential growth of off-road vehicle use and destructive abuse. The BLM has auctioned off more than 150,000 acres of wilderness-quality lands in Utah since the disputed 2003 "no more wilderness" settlement between the state of Utah and the Interior Department
“We know that the oil and gas industry already has an abundance of oil and gas leases in Utah and that there are enough off-road vehicle trails in Utah to encircle the earth four times. America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act would restore balance by ensuring that some of our most cherished public lands are dedicated for wilderness preservation,” said Scott Groene of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.
America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act represents one of America’s greatest unfulfilled conservation opportunities. Introduction of this bill today with broad national support is an important step towards realizing a lasting public lands legacy for all Americans.
Representative Hinchey introduced America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act on April 18th. Senator Durbin will introduce the Senate version of America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act on Thursday April 19th.
The Utah Wilderness Coalition (UWC), comprised of over 240 local, regional and national organizations, was organized in 1985. The Coalition facilitates communication and consensus building among its member organizations and is led by the Executive Committee organizations, Sierra Club, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, The Wasatch Mountain Club, and The Wilderness Society.
