Durbin Commends Decision to Withdraw Controversial Utah Oil Leases
Press Release
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, for taking action to protect America's Red Rock Wilderness, approximately 9.4 million acres of spectacular and rare wilderness in southern Utah. Today's decision withdraws the lease of seventy-seven parcels of federal land for oil and gas drilling in Utah's Red Rock Wilderness.
"Over the last few years, my colleagues and I have worked to block attempts by the previous Administration to let these fragile lands of magnificent beauty, which already belong to the public, fall victim to oil, gas and mining interests," said Durbin. "Today's announcement is not only a major victory for the Red Rock Wilderness, but a signal that Salazar and the Obama Administration will take an active role in preserving our national treasures for future generations of Americans."
Previously, Durbin has introduced the American's Red Rock Wilderness Act which would designate 9.4 millions acres in Utah as wilderness under the 1964 Wilderness Act. The bill provides wilderness protection for wildlands, which include steep red rock canyons, enormous arches and towering cliffs with spectacular vistas of unmatched sandstone landscapes. Hidden within this expansive setting are world-renowned archeological sites and habitat for rare plant and animal species. These areas are a haven for those seeking solace in nature, including hikers, backpackers and recreationists.
The lands designated as wilderness in Durbin's legislation were primarily identified through a detailed and extensive public inventory of Bureau of Land Management lands conducted by volunteers from the Utah Wilderness Coalition. By designating certain areas as wilderness, the bill protects them from new commercial enterprise/development, oil and gas exploration, motorized/mechanized vehicles, and road building. Non-consumptive uses such as hunting, fishing, camping, backpacking, hiking, and horseback riding are permitted under the legislation.
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