DURANGO, COLO. (AP) -- A bill that would remove federal protection for millions of acres of public land and open them up for development and off-road vehicles is facing opposition from the Obama administration.
The Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act co-sponsored by Colorado Rep. Scott Tipton would all but do away with many roadless areas, including the San Juan National Forest.
The bill also would end Bureau of Land Management protections to many Wilderness Study Areas, like the Dolores River Canyon.
Agriculture Department undersecretary Harris Sherman argued that roadless areas are critical in preserving wildlife habitats and hunting and fishing opportunities, according to the Durango Herald.
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