For immediate release: July 16, 2009
Contact: (202) 225-4761
Eric Wortman, Communications Director
Contact: (202) 536-6190
Edward Stern, Deputy Press Secretary
Eric Wortman, Communications Director
Contact: (202) 536-6190
Edward Stern, Deputy Press Secretary
Salazar Unveils Draft of San Juan Mountains Wilderness Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman John Salazar today unveiled a public draft of the proposed San Juan Mountains Wilderness Legislation. A summary of the proposal is below and additional information – including maps, photos, and the full bill text – can be found on Congressman Salazar’s website at: http://www.house.gov/salazar/sjmw.shtml. The Congressman’s office is currently taking comments on the draft legislation for the next 30 days.
Summary San Juan Mountains Wilderness Bill Proposed Legislation
This legislation includes 63,475 acres of public land on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison and San Juan National Forests and San Juan Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Area. All of the acreage affected by this proposal is in San Miguel, Ouray and San Juan Counties. A wilderness designation was requested by the County Commissions of those three counties.
Under this proposed legislation the following areas will receive Wilderness Area designations:
• 3,374 acres will be added to the existing Lizard Head Wilderness Area by the Blackface, Sunshine and Wilson additions.
• 9,086 acres will be added to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area by the Liberty Bell and Last Dollar additions.
• 13,224 acres will be added to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area by the Whitehouse addition.
• 8,614 acres of the McKenna Peak Wilderness Study Area will be designated as Wilderness
In addition, two other designations will be created by the proposed legislation.
• 22,582 acres will be designated as the Sheep Mountain Special Management Area. Currently permitted uses including helisking will be allowed to continue indefinitely, but no new roads or other development will be permitted.
• 6,595 acres will be withdrawn from eligibility for mineral leasing in Naturita Canyon. No other uses in the canyon will be impacted.
• 3,374 acres will be added to the existing Lizard Head Wilderness Area by the Blackface, Sunshine and Wilson additions.
• 9,086 acres will be added to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area by the Liberty Bell and Last Dollar additions.
• 13,224 acres will be added to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area by the Whitehouse addition.
• 8,614 acres of the McKenna Peak Wilderness Study Area will be designated as Wilderness
In addition, two other designations will be created by the proposed legislation.
• 22,582 acres will be designated as the Sheep Mountain Special Management Area. Currently permitted uses including helisking will be allowed to continue indefinitely, but no new roads or other development will be permitted.
• 6,595 acres will be withdrawn from eligibility for mineral leasing in Naturita Canyon. No other uses in the canyon will be impacted.