WASHINGTON — Rocky Mountain National Park would gain protection from development, and four other Colorado areas would gain federal help under a major lands bill backers hope to put to a vote before Congress’ August recess.
The legislation packages 96 bills on new national parks, wilderness and heritage areas, and water proposals. It passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee just before the July 4 recess.
“This package of bills will help us protect some of Colorado’s signature places,” said Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., who sits on the energy committee. The wilderness measures in the bill would preserve more than 900,000 acres of federal land in Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Virginia and West Virginia, including 250,000 acres in Rocky Mountain National Park. Although the backcountry of the park is managed as wilderness, the bill would ensure permanent protection.
Anne C. Mulkern, The Denver Post
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