WASHINGTON—The Pew Charitable Trusts today praised the U.S. House of Representatives for passing legislation to protect roughly 400,000 acres of public lands in four Colorado landscapes: The Continental Divide and Camp Hale, where the 10th Mountain Division trained during World War II; the San Juan Mountains Wilderness; the Thompson Divide; and Curecanti National Recreation Area. The Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act (H.R. 823) was introduced by Representative Joe Neguse (D-CO). Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) has introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate.
The House also passed the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act (H.R. 2181), which would prohibit oil and gas development around Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico, and the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act (H.R. 1373), which would exclude more than 1 million acres from future uranium mining in Arizona.
John Gilroy, director of Pew’s U.S. public lands and rivers conservation program, issued this statement:
“We applaud House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl Grijalva and Representatives Joe Neguse and Ben Ray Luján for their leadership in working to protect Chaco Canyon, the Grand Canyon, and 400,000 acres of public lands in Colorado. These bills reflect the will of residents who came together to realize a vision for their local communities.
“The CORE Act is the result of collaboration between veterans, sportsmen, small-business owners, elected officials, conservationists, and other stakeholders. It will conserve critical wildlife habitat, help grow Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy, and honor the World War II veterans of the 10th Mountain Division.
“Pew will continue to work with members of Congress, local partners, and communities to preserve these natural treasures for future generations. We urge the U.S. Senate to pass all of these important public land protection measures.”
The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Learn more at www.pewtrusts.org.