One year anniversary of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act

Today marks the one year anniversary of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009. The legislation preserves more wilderness area than any other bill passed by Congress in the past 15 years. The protected land is currently used by millions of Americans – including small business owners, vacationers, hunters, and ranchers – and the Act ensures that future generations will also be able to enjoy the same resources.

The Act represents decades of work to preserve our natural spaces and is comprised of a package of over 160 bills – many of which had previously passed in the House. For example, in Oregon, the law represents the first wilderness expansion signed into law for the state in two decades. According to Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer, “Oregonians should not have to wait for 20 more years to see our state’s natural beauty protected and preserved for generations to come.” The more than 2 million new acres of wilderness and parks – such as those in Oregon – will help strengthen rural economies and the 6.5 million jobs related to outdoor recreation.

To view some of the protected lands, be sure to check out the Bureau of Land Management’s webpage.