After years of debate, the US Congress has passed legislation that permanently protects more than 3.3 million acres of public lands in Arizona. The bill now goes to the president for his expected signature. The legislation designates more than 2 million acres of wilderness in nine other states and establishes or expands several national parks. The bill also permanently recognizes more than 850 federal sites nationwide under the National Landcape Conservation System, such as national monuments, wilderness areas and scenic trails. The Arizona Republic reports that the most watched provision of the bill in Arizona is the addition of Fossil Creek to the national list of Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Passage of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act means that it will be much harder for industrial or commercial development to take place at monuments in Arizona.
Republicans say the bill will cost jobs and shut off access to natural gas deposits.
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