Wild Lands Order Abandoned
The Department of the Interior released a memo from Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar Wednesday, directing the Bureau of Land Management to take no action under the Wild Lands Order. This Order was signed in December 2010, setting aside federal lands as areas of special interest for possible inclusion in wilderness designation. Wyoming Governor Matt Mead says the decision to reverse course on the Wild Lands Order is in the best interest of Wyoming and the entire West. US Senator John Barrasso calls the order, in his words “misguided right out of the box.” Barrasso says he is pleased the administration finally understands that bypassing Congress and ignoring input from local officials is the wrong way to go. Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis adds that she believes 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.
