Lummis Statement on Interior Department Decision to Discard Wild Lands Policy

Statement

U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Vice-Chair of the Congressional Western Caucus, applauded Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's decision to discard the administration's "wild lands" designation. The mandate had the potential to harm Western communities and their economies by limiting multiple use of public lands while at the same time, circumventing Congressional authority.

Lummis released the following statement:

"I am pleased Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has honored Congress' direction to defund the department's "wild lands' approach to land management. I strongly believe that a healthy balance between all of the uses of our public lands can be achieved using current law and by obtaining the critical input of local officials. Although today's announcement is heartening news for Western communities and economies which rely on multiple use for their livelihoods, I will continue to closely monitor how the Department of the Interior intends to manage Bureau of Land Management lands, and will take special interest in the Administration's plan with regard to lands with "wilderness characteristics.'"

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