Issa Opens Beauty Mountain Wilderness Bill for Public Comment

Press Release

Issa Opens Beauty Mountain Wilderness Bill for Public Comment

Congressman Darrell Issa today presented for public comment draft legislation that would significantly increase the size of the Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia Wilderness areas through new designations in over 20,000 acres in San Diego County.

"This legislation will protect and preserve lands for use by current and future generations," said Rep. Issa. "I'm asking for the public to review and share their ideas so that this wilderness area is created in full consultation with those who will enjoy the benefits of protecting this land and live near it."

The proposed Wilderness legislation:

Includes special provisions encouraging the development of appropriate recreation facilities;

Will protect critical wildlife habitat, scenery and sources of clean water from inappropriate industrial development;

Permits efforts to prevent and suppress wildfires, immigration enforcement, search and rescue, and other important activities; and

Protects private property rights.

The Beauty Mountain Wilderness in Riverside County was established on March 30, 2009 when the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 was signed into law. A wilderness is an area of public land that has been protected from development and vehicle use but where hiking, horseback riding, camping, hunting, firefighting and other activities are still allowed. This proposed legislation will add 13,635 acres of Beauty Mountain in San Diego County to the existing wilderness, thus making the Beauty Mountain Wilderness 29,256 acres in size. The legislation will also add 7,796 acres into the Agua Tibia Wilderness

The comment period for Rep. Issa's Beauty Mountain Wilderness proposal will be open until Monday, August 17th. Comments on this legislation can be sent to beautymountain@mail.house.gov.

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